Albany is Going Green
with 100% Renewable Energy
Your service changed to 100% California wind and solar power in January 2022.
In order to offer Albany businesses and residents cleaner energy, and to help the City of Albany achieve its Climate Action Plan goals, the Albany City Council voted to join East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) in November 2016. EBCE began serving residential, business, and municipal electricity customers throughout Albany in 2018. Until July 2020, customers in Albany were automatically placed on EBCE’s Brilliant 100 service, which offered customers 100% carbon-free electricity at the same price as PG&E. Brilliant 100 service is no longer offered as of January 2022.
Transitioning to 100% California Wind and Solar Energy
In June 2021, the Albany City Council voted to set the default electricity option for Albany residents to EBCE’s Renewable 100 service starting in January 2022. Renewable 100 service is sourced from California wind and solar facilities, including a new wind farm in Livermore. Renewable 100 costs an additional 3/4 cent per kilowatt-hour above PG&E rates. That’s about $4 more per month for a typical Albany home and varies more widely for businesses based on amount of power used. Your participation is helping EBCE move toward 100% carbon-free electricity for all customers by 2030.
Accounts started before July 1, 2020
| Customer Type | Default service | New service starting January 2022 (no action needed) | Choose a different service (action needed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential standard | Brilliant 100 | Renewable 100 | Choose Bright Choice |
| Residential with CARE, FERA, or Medical Baseline | Brilliant 100 | Bright Choice | Choose Renewable 100 |
| Commercial | Brilliant 100 | Renewable 100 | Choose Bright Choice |
Account started after July 1, 2020
| Customer Type | Default Service | New service starting January 2022 (no action needed) | Choose a different service (action needed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential standard | Bright Choice | Renewable 100 | Choose Bright Choice |
| Residential with CARE, FERA or Medical Baseline | Bright Choice | Bright Choice | Choose Renewable 100 |
| Commercial | Bright Choice | Renewable 100 | Choose Bright Choice |
Your Choices
EBCE also offers their Bright Choice service, which is priced 3% below PG&E rates. Customers who prefer to power their home or business with Bright Choice are welcome to do so, by clicking on Choose Bright Choice below. Customers who are on CARE, FERA, and/or Medical Baseline programs will default to Bright Choice service automatically, but can still choose Renewable 100. Customers can change their EBCE service or return to PG&E service anytime.
EBCE and the City of Albany sent notices in December 2021 and January 2022 to your PG&E billing address, and an email to customers who have an email address on file with PG&E, containing information about this service transition. To learn more about your electric service choices, please visit ebce.org/compare-plans-residential/ or ebce.org/compare-plans-business/ or contact EBCE’s call center at 1-833-699-EBCE (3223) during business hours (9 am - 5 pm on weekdays).
More Information
EBCE hosted a series of webinars to review the basics about our service, and answered any questions. These webinars were recorded.
FAQ
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What is EBCE?
East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) has been Albany's power supplier providing cleaner, greener, and more affordable choices for electricity since 2018. EBCE is a Community Choice Energy program, also known as Community Choice Aggregation, which allows public agencies to purchase electricity on behalf of their community members, instead of relying on PG&E to both procure and deliver energy. EBCE provides Albany with more local control over our sources of energy as well as resilience and efficiency programs. EBCE's Board includes one elected official from each member city, and Albany's appointee is City Council Member Aaron Tiedemann.
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Why do I still receive bills from PG&E?
EBCE procures electricity for our customers, and PG&E delivers electricity to your home or business. PG&E also continues to handle the billing, turn on and off power when you move, maintain the power lines, and resolve outages. As an EBCE customer, your PG&E bill will include EBCE charges and also a Generation Credit from PG&E since they are no longer providing power generation to you. Those who prefer to have PG&E continue to buy their electricity can choose that option.
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Why did Albany switch to Renewable 100?
Unfortunately, EBCE's Brilliant 100 will no longer be offered as of January 2022.
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I already selected Bright Choice. Will I remain on Bright Choice?
Customers in Albany who selected Bright Choice service will remain on Bright Choice without the need to take action. Customers who would like to select Bright Choice now may do so here. Customers who started service after July 1, 2020 were enrolled in Bright Choice as their default service and will be transitioned to Renewable 100 unless they choose to remain on Bright Choice service. Customers who are on CARE, FERA, and Medical Baseline programs will be placed on Bright Choice service automatically - but these customers can still choose Renewable 100 by completing this form. Customers can opt-out of EBCE service and return to PG&E bundled service anytime.
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Where should I go if I have more questions?
For more FAQs, please visit ebce.org/faq/. To speak to a call center representative, call 1-833-699-EBCE (3223) weekdays between 9AM - 5PM.