Council looks at efforts to inform residents of change from PG&E to Marin Clean Energy

Benicia residents soon must select from four energy options, details of which the City Council will hear tonight when it reviews the status of the way Marin Clean Energy is telling Benicia’s 13,105 business and residential electricity customers about the upcoming switch from Pacific Gas and Electric to MCE as the city’s primary power source.

MCE, a community choice aggregation agency, has been approved by the Council to purchase electricity on the city’s behalf. The not-for-profit agency has produced a 16-page blueprint for explaining customers’ power purchase options, as well as how they may remain with PG&E if they so choose.

Those who express no opinion will be enrolled automatically in MCE Light Green, in which the agency will buy half a customer’s power usage from renewable sources.

MCE Deep Green is the purchase of 100 percent of a customer’s usage from renewable sources. MCE Local Sol would be the purchase of 100 percent of usage from solar sources.

Customers also may remain with PG&E, the city’s current power provider. But they must make that request — known as “opting out” — or they will become MCE customers. PG&E has 22 percent renewable-sourced energy, the MCE plan states.

MCE Light Green service will be available May 1. The Deep Green option also is available. Early requests can be made to enroll in MCE Local Sol, but those customers will be placed on a waiting list until that service is offered in fall.

The agency promised to send five notices to all Benicia customers, three before enrollment and two after service starts. Those notices will include information on how customers can stay with PG&E. The first notice was mailed Feb. 19, and subsequent ones will arrive through June.

Among community organizations, Arts Benicia is providing information about the change on its Facebook page. Benicia League of Women Voters has emailed information, and two civic groups, Benicia Rotary and Women’s Friendship Club, will have presentations during upcoming meetings.

Information also will be shared through a Community Leader Advisory Group (CLAG) that will be formed to guide the agency’s outreach efforts, its plan states. CLAG members should come from representatives of industrial and business associations, community organizations, government officials and city employees, and should represent both those who favored and those who opposed the city’s membership in MCE.

Members will help draft enrollment notices and organize town hall-style meetings that will give residents and business owners the opportunity to ask questions about the change.

MCE also has a call center for those with questions. Its number is 888-632-3674, and it has information in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog and Laotian.

In addition, customers may email MCE at info@mceCleanEnergy.org, which also can be used by those who do not want to be enrolled with MCE.

Information about the change and options will be advertised and promoted on an MCE-developed website and during meetings with community organizations and during citywide events.

The Council will review MCE’s outreach progress at its meeting that starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 250 East L St.

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