MARIN CLEAN ENERGY IS BENICIA’S NEW ELECTRICITY PROVIDER. We offer cleaner energy service and lower rates to help the environment and save you money. If you have questions about MCE, how it works or how it affects you as a resident or business in Benicia, please keep reading. Below are answers to the most common questions we hear about MCE.

Because MCE is now Benicia’s default electricity provider, if you have a PG&E account you will start MCE Light Green 50-percent renewable electric service automatically in May, unless you choose another option.

You may also choose MCE’s Deep Green 100-percent renewable energy by opting up, or PG&E’s 22-percent renewable energy by opting out. PG&E will continue providing electric delivery and billing services to MCE customers.

Is MCE’s power cleaner than PG&E’s? Yes.

By all measures, MCE provides cleaner energy options to Benicia residents and businesses.

According to 2013 California Energy Commission power content labels, MCE’s Light Green service was 51-percent renewable — which includes solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal and small hydroelectricity — compared to PG&E’s 22-percent renewable. Figures for 2014 have not yet been verified. The most recent, publicly verified power content is from 2013. Renewables .

These same power content labels show that MCE’s Light Green service was 61-percent carbon-free in 2013 compared to PG&E’s 54 percent. Renewable energy, large hydroelectricity and nuclear energy is considered carbon free. MCE’s power supply does not include nuclear.

MCE’s Light Green greenhouse gas (GHG) emission rate for 2013 was 363.7 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour. PG&E’s GHG emission rate was 427 pounds CO2/MWh.

MCE is in good standing with state regulatory agencies and voluntarily submits its Deep Green, 100-percent renewable energy data for verification by an independent third party called Green-e.

Are MCE’s rates less expensive than PG&E’s? Yes.

MCE’s rates are currently lower, and they are also more stable. Since operations began in 2010, rates have only changed once a year, in April. MCE does not guarantee that rates will always be lower, because PG&E tends to change rates three to five times per year.

MCE will increase rates by 4.2 percent in April. The April rates are used in all cost comparisons, since Benicia’s enrollment is taking place in May. Even after the increase, all MCE rates will remain lower than PG&E’s.

MCE Light Green service will annually save the typical residential and commercial customers about $17 and $166, respectively. In 2014, MCE saved customers more than $5.9 million!

MCE customers continue to receive financial assistance on their bills through CARE, FERA and/or the Medical Baseline allowance.

What does MCE offer Benicia? Choice, savings, green jobs and more!

MCE creates choice where there was none by offering two new options for energy service: Light Green, 50-percent renewable energy, and Deep Green, 100-percent renewable energy.

Those who choose Light Green service have savings opportunities on their monthly PG&E bill. In 2014 the city of Richmond saved approximately $107,000 through MCE, and the West Contra Costa Unified School District has saved approximately $66,000 since its enrollment. The county of Marin met its greenhouse gas reductions goals eight years early, in part because of MCE.

MCE has more than 193 megawatts (MW) of new California clean energy under development for its customers, including a 10-MW solar project at Chevron-owned property in Richmond. MCE’s contracted power projects have generated more than 2,400 California jobs.

MCE offers new programs tailored to your community: energy efficiency programs, electric vehicle pilot programs, an innovative battery storage program, on-bill repayment of solar loans and much more.

What kind of organization is MCE?

MCE is a locally controlled, not-for-profit community choice aggregator. As a local government agency and public servant, MCE is always working in the best interests of our member communities.

By joining MCE, Benicia now has local control to ensure that the high prices and volatility that took place during the energy crisis of 2000 won’t happen again. The city of Benicia got a seat on the MCE board when it voted to join; Alan Schwartzman was selected by the Benicia City Council to fill that seat.

MCE does not use taxpayer dollars. It reinvests in communities by providing low and stable rates, fostering local renewable development projects and expanding energy efficiency programs.

MCE is governed by a board of directors made up of locally elected council members who represent each of our member communities. MCE’s board of directors is not paid by MCE.

Why does MCE enroll customers automatically?

Historically, investor-owned utilities have been the default service provider to customers in their jurisdictions. However, in 2002, when state legislators passed California’s Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) law, this default status was transferred from the investor-owned utility to the local CCA. Reflecting the wisdom of collective community action, the original CCA legislation mandated that customers residing in a service area be automatically enrolled unless they chose not to participate by opting out.

How do I get more information or opt out?

Visit MCE’s website at mceCleanEnergy.org/Benicia, email info@mceCleanEnergy.org or call 888-632-3674. To inform residents and businesses, MCE is also arranging presentations for local organizations and clubs. Public meetings are listed on our website. If you would like to schedule a presentation for your group, please email info@mceCleanEnergy.org.

MCE is an “opt out” program as required by state law, not by marketing design. MCE has made every effort to make the opt out process simple and efficient. To ensure that people are aware of the change in their electric service, MCE mails five separate notices to all Benicia electric customers.

All ratepayers can opt out of MCE either by calling 888-632-3674 or doing so online at mcecleanenergy.org/opt-out. Please have your PG&E account number on hand, because we will need it to process your request.

Dawn Weisz is the executive officer for the Marin Energy Authority. She coordinated efforts to explore and launch the Marin Clean Energy program, the first community choice aggregation program in California.