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Monterey Bay Community Power Becomes Primary Electricity Provider for Cities of Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo

January 9, 2020

Community Choice Energy Model Will Deliver Economic and Environmental Benefits

San Luis Obispo, CA January 9, 2020 – Ushered in by the communities of Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo, Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP) will begin delivering cost savings and other clean-energy benefits to residents and businesses in Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo throughout January 2020. As the new, primary electricity provider for these cities, service will begin automatically for customers on their monthly meter-read date.

MBCP has already energized significant economic and environmental progress in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties since its March 2018 launch and will expand on these benefits by growing its service area along the Central Coast. In early 2021, the not-for-profit public agency will begin service for the Cities of Arroyo Grande, Carpinteria, Del Rey Oaks, Goleta, Grover Beach, Guadalupe, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, Santa Maria, Solvang, and the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County, making MBCP the largest agency of its kind in the State by geography.

“I am proud to support a vision of carbon-free future for all. Our community has seen the impacts of fossil fuel pollution and climate change here in our town and across California,” shared Heidi Harmon, Mayor of San Luis Obispo.  “Joining Monterey Bay Community Power gives our community an opportunity to accelerate meaningful and equitable change that helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stimulates the local economy through energy programs and cost savings.”

MBCP is partnering with PG&E on delivering better and more affordable electricity service. MBCP will become the primary electric generation provider leveraging carbon-free resources at a lower cost and PG&E will continue its traditional role delivering electricity as well as maintaining infrastructure and billing. Both MBCP and PG&E are committed to a transparent and informed transition for all customers.

“Transparency and accountability are hallmark principles of public agencies like MBCP,” shares MBCP CEO, Tom Habashi. “All our financials and our Board Meetings are accessible and open to the public. Like all other community choice energy agencies, we are accountable to our Policy and Operations Boards and to the communities that we serve.”

Other than savings, the only change that customers will see on their bill is a new line item for MBCP Electric Generation Charges. PG&E will no longer include electric generation charges inside their bundled service, they will only bill for transmission and distribution. Customers will continue receiving only one electric bill from PG&E, which includes both PG&E charges for transmission and distribution, as well as MBCP charges for electric generation.

Between November 2019 and March 2020 every electricity customer in Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo will receive four unique mailers outlining who MBCP is, what the change means for customers, how the enrollment process will unfold and what benefits customers can look forward to. MBCP’s Public Engagement team has been available to answer questions at the SLO Farmer’s Market and during walk-in hours in both cities. Customers need take no action to receive service from MBCP which provides monthly cost savings, access to energy program funding and support for MBCP’s carbon-free power mix.

Formed with the goals of delivering cost savings, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to the economic vitality of the communities it serves, MBCP currently maintains a 95% enrollment rate in the Monterey Bay Region.

John Headding, Mayor of Morro Bay declared, “The benefits of joining Monterey Bay Community Power are significant. We’re thrilled to be part of such a progressive movement that provides more affordable electricity, innovative energy programs, and local economic investment through such a collaborative Central Coast community choice energy agency.”

To date, MBCP has provided customers in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties with a total savings of $18.4 million on electric-generation costs. In addition, the nearly two-year old agency made more than $8 million in energy program funding available to customers in 2019, further reducing greenhouse gas emissions through transportation and building initiatives. MBCP anticipates businesses and residents in Morro Bay saving a combined $246,578 in 2020, while the City of SLO is on track to save $1.3 million. MBCP credits its ability to provide savings and community reinvestment to an unyielding commitment to clean energy sources, running a small and efficient operation, and remaining engaged with key stakeholders in the communities it serves.

For more information regarding the Monterey Bay Community Power enrollment for the Cities of Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo, please visit http://www.mbcp.org/enrollment

About: Monterey Bay Community Power is a Community Choice Energy agency established by local communities to source carbon-free electricity for Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties and now the cities of Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. PG&E will continue their traditional role delivering power and maintaining electric infrastructure. As a locally controlled not-for-profit public agency, MBCP is not taxpayer funded and supports regional economic vitality by providing clean energy at a lower cost, supporting low-income rate payers, and funding local energy programs. For more information, visit www.mbcp.org     

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