The board of directors of the Peninsula Clean Energy Authority (PCEA) community aggregation program in San Mateo County, California, announced on July 26 that it had selected competitive electric retail provider Direct Energy for its first-phase rollout.
The PCEA, formed in March 2016, is a joint powers authority made up of the County of San Mateo and the 20 cities it comprises. This joint powers authority was formed “to provide the residents and businesses in San Mateo County with a cleaner and greener choice in where their energy is sourced.”
Direct Energy was selected through a competitive process and, the PCEA said, “It offers … the best pricing for products to be supplied to … customers to be initially enrolled in the first phase of the program in October 2016.”
This confirmation agreement with Direct Energy is for a 51-month term, running from October 2016 through December 2020.
Customers in San Mateo County will be enrolled in the 50 percent renewable default option, branded as ECOplus, which also will include 75 percent greenhouse gas-free content. Account holders will have the opportunity to opt up to a 100 percent renewable option branded as ECO100. The new program offers customers as much as a 40 percent discount on these energy efficient choices, Direct Energy claims.
"Direct Energy is honored to work with Peninsula Clean Energy to meet the growing demand for significantly more renewable and affordable energy," commented John Schultz, president, Direct Energy Business. "We are committed to a competitive marketplace so we can provide consumers a choice, complete with the tools they need to manage their lives and businesses efficiently."
"Peninsula Clean Energy is looking forward to offering the residents and businesses of San Mateo County a cleaner, greener electricity choice, at lower rates than the incumbent utility," said Jan Pepper, CEO of Peninsula Clean Energy. "This agreement with Direct Energy for this first phase of our rollout allows us to meet these objectives for our customers."
The full program rollout is scheduled for completion next spring.
