By Karen Villasenor.

As interest in Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs continues to increase, several cities have engaged California Choice Energy Authority (CCEA) to conduct technical studies that will determine each city’s feasibility for a CCA program. As of June 2018, CCEA is conducting studies for the Cities of Baldwin Park, Commerce, El Monte, Pomona and Santa Paula.

“We are always excited for the opportunity to work with cities who are interested in bringing CCA programs to their communities,” said CCEA Board Member R. Rex Parris. “Implementing a CCA program does not have to be a hassle for prospective community choice aggregators. CCEA is an expert in CCA and can ensure each city’s technical study is completed smoothly.”   

Baldwin Park, Commerce, El Monte, Pomona and Santa Paula currently receive electricity services from Southern California Edison (SCE), the local investor-owned utility. By implementing a CCA program, each city would be able to procure and generate electricity for residents and businesses, offering each community a new electricity provider from which to choose.

CCEA’s technical studies will determine the energy load and the estimated annual costs and revenues of operating a CCA program in each city. For cities that yield positive results and choose to move forward with CCA implementation, CCEA will develop an implementation plan outlining the City’s proposed CCA program. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requires all prospective community choice aggregators to submit an implementation plan.  

“CCA can help cities increase renewable energy in their communities and generate revenues that can be used for environmental initiatives. By pursuing CCA, all of our partner cities are taking a step towards a greener future,” added Parris.

Following completion of the technical study and implementation plan, each city has the option to join CCEA as an Associate Member to receive assistance in launching the CCA program. CCEA’s hybrid JPA model allows Associate Members to benefit from CCEA’s expertise in CCA implementation while allowing each member to retain local control. Associate Members of CCEA include the Cities of Lancaster, Pico Rivera, San Jacinto and Rancho Mirage.

“By joining CCEA as an Associate Member, the City of Rancho Mirage has been able to maintain 100 percent local control over revenues generated by Rancho Mirage Energy Authority,” said Isaiah Hagerman, City of Rancho Mirage City Manager. “With local control, we are able to ensure that CCA revenues are used for programs that benefit our community.”  

If each city decides to move forward with CCA and submits their implementation plan prior to Jan. 1, 2019, Southern California may be looking at five new CCA programs in 2020.

CCEA is a pioneering Community Choice Aggregation solution for cities in California. The hybrid joint powers authority provides an innovative model that retains local control of utility services for cities who partner with CCEA while alleviating operational risk and administrative overhead associated with the implementation of CCA. For more information, please visit https://californiachoiceenergyauthority.com/.