MBCP Sets the Record Straight on Electricity Cost

October 2018 Newsletter

Greetings!

As you may already be aware, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted for the "Alternate Proposed Decision" that was less in MBCP's favor than the original “Proposed Decision,” regarding the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA) that utilities like PG&E can charge.

The news coverage and many conversations on social media across the State have provided a wide spectrum of information about this decision, and not all of it accurate. As part of MBCP’s commitments to transparency and accountability, we’d like to share the facts about what customers will experience regarding their electricity bill.

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT:

MBCP Customers Will Receive a 3% Rebate and Cost-Savings Over PG&E, Delivered as a Credit on Your December bill

MBCP remains dedicated to never charging higher rates than PG&E, and will continue to provide both a savings and local investment into the communities we serve.

Committed to Customer Savings

and Community Investment

The CPUC's vote equates to a higher cost for MBCP, not to MBCP customers. The vote simply means that MBCP will not be able to invest as much as desired in both customer savings and local programs for the short-term.

All of us here at MBCP thank you for your support and we encourage you to help set the record straight in your own community. As always, our Customer Support Center is available to answer questions on the phone (888.909.6227) or via email ( [email protected] ), and our Community Outreach Team is available for presentations to communities and organizations in the tri-county area.

Know Your Costs

As part of our setting the record straight efforts, MBCP has created new resources for understanding your bill, available online.

“Timing is everything,” so the saying goes. MBCP's residential-service launch coincided with a summertime rate increase by PG&E, giving many customers the impression that MBCP service led to higher rates.

As part of MBCP’s efforts to make cost comparisons simple, we match PG&E rates exactly and then provide cost-savings through a rebate. Whether rates go up or down in the short-term, MBCP remains committed to delivering annual cost-savings.

No New or Additional Charges on Your Bill

Seeing a rise in electricity costs earlier this year, many customers looked at their bill for the first time in months and noticed some new line items: the Monterey Bay Community Power Electric Generation Charge, PCIA Fee and Franchise Fee Surcharge.

Prior to MBCP service, all three costs (Electric Generation Charge + PCIA Fee + Franchise Fee) were buried inside PG&E’s Bundled Services cost, and all customers paid them whether they knew it or not. Now that MBCP is in control of where and how your electricity is generated, the MBCP Electric Generation Charge stands alone as a separate line item – NOT an additional charge.

And as part of MBCP’s commitment to transparency and accountability, we’re making the PCIA Fee and Franchise Fee clear as day. No more hidden costs inside a ‘bundled’ rate. PG&E will continue to charge for Transmission and Delivery.

New Resources to Help Customers Better Understand

Their Bill, Available Online:

Understanding Your Bill

Como Leer Su Factura De Energia Electrica

Know Your Costs and Rates

Conoce Tus Tarifas

MBCP Inks Deal for Largest Solar-Plus-Storage Project in California

In another innovative collaboration with Silicon Valley Clean Energy, MBCP has put in motion a Solar-Plus-Storage project that will outsize all others to date in California.

Working with energy developers Recurrent Energy and EDF, the Slate and BigBeau projects in Kings and Kern Counties respectively, will generate 278 MWs of 100% renewable energy with a combined storage capacity of 85 MWs, setting a new standard for utility-scale proforma solar-plus-storage agreements. The Slate project is the largest solar-plus-storage project in California history.

According to a May, 2018 U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) report: At the end of 2017, 708 MWs of utility-scale battery storage capacity was in operation in the US. With the approval of these two projects, MBCP and SVCE will be contributing to a 12% increase in US Storage Capacity.