CCA rules

DEMAND FAIR RULES for COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION (CCA)
Call or write to Commissioner Peevey and let him know that you want fair rules for CCA

What is Community Choice Aggregation?
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is the legal framework established under Assembly Bill 117 (Migden- Dem, 2002) by which a city or county may purchase electricity for its constituents and deliver it over the transmission lines operated by the local private utility. Your city or county can invest in its own generation capacity like solar panel installations, or a wind farm, or can contract for power with a third-party provider. Consumers within the jurisdiction can choose to stick with their current electricity provider, or have their Community Choice Aggregator purchase electricity for them.

What are the benefits of Community Choice Aggregation?
The California energy crisis of 2000-2001 made it clear to California communities that our energy supplies and rates are not secure . California still does not have adequately secure electricity supplies, and we are still at risk of electricity disruptions and price gouging. San Diegans are paying some of the highest electricity rates in the nation. CCA provides local control and accountability for businesses and residents about how their millions of dollars of ratepayer money is invested. With CCA, jurisdictions can use the combined buying power of their constituents to negotiate for more affordable power and to create a critical market for green power.

What kind of track record do CCAs have?
Community electricity aggregation has already been successfully implemented in Ohio and Massachusetts. In Ohio, over a million households and businesses are supplied through the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), a public electricity aggregator. NOPEC cut its customers’ pollution by 70 percent while saving its customers money. NOPEC customers are guaranteed a price that is lower than the coal and nuclear supplies they had relied on before.

What is the status of CCA in Chula Vista and California?
Whether or not Community Choice Aggregation will be a viable option will depend on the rules that govern CCA implementation. The authority to develop these rules is vested with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The CPUC is currently in the process of establishing the ‘charges’ jurisdictions will have to pay the utilities to implement CCA, as well as other important aspects of CCA operation. It is critical that California jurisdictions and the public ensure that the CPUC Community Choice Aggregation charges and other rules for CCA operation are fair and meet the legislative intent of AB 117 to provide consumers a real CHOICE for their electricity.

What can I do to help make Community Choice a reality?
The City of Chula Vista and the County of San Francisco have lead the effort to establish fair charges and rules for CCA implementation. This fall '05, CPUC Commissioner Michael R. Peevey will issue a ‘proposed decision’ that will outline how CCAs will operate. After receiving input from the public, the full Commission will vote and issue a final decision that will determine the viability of CCAs. CALL or SEND A LETTER. SEE SAMPLE BELOW.

a) California Energy Commission. Presentation Electricity Outlook: Summer 2005 and beyond http://www.energy.ca.gov/electricity/2005_summer_forecast/2005-02-22_SENATE_PRESENTATION.PDF Accessed June 13, 2005.

b) CA Independent System Operator (ISO) ISOOutlook Summer 2005 & Beyond
11-Apr-2005 presentation to Assembly Utilities & Commerce Committees. http://www.caiso.com/docs/09003a6080/35/7b/09003a6080357b18.pdf Accessed July13, 2005

SDG&E rates in 2003 were the fifth highest in the nation among the 182 Investor Owned Utilities with 10,000 or more customers. US Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. Electric Sales and Revenue 2003 Spreadsheet, Table 17 “ Class of Ownership, Number of Bundled Ultimate Consumers, Revenue, Sales, and Average Retail Price per Kilowatthour for All Sectors by State and Utility, 2003” http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/esr/esr_tabs.html Accessed July 12, 2005.

North Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC). Benefits of Aggregation. http://www.nopecinfo.org/benefits.html Accessed July 12, 2005.

Local Power. http://www.local.org/ . Community Choice Aggregation FAQs – Ohio’s Example. Accessed May 16, 2005

Sample Letter/ Speaking Points
Copy, Paste and Print

Commissioner Michael R. Peevey
California Public Utilities Commission
415-703-3703
commissionerpeevey@cpuc.ca.gov
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102

Dear Commissioner Peevey,

I urge you to set fair and reasonable charges and rules for Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) implementation pursuant to Assembly Bill 117, 2002. It is critical that the legislative intent of AB 117 is met and that California Communities have a real CHOICE in their energy future without barriers to CCA implementation.

The CPUC should ensure that the rules adopted do not pose any obstacle to cities who wish to provide energy choices to their residents. For example, the rules should not allow utilities to hold a CCA customer liable for utility charges that are so high that they pose a bar to successful CCA implementation. The CCA rules should be flexible enough to allow communities to pursue clean, renewable energy while allowing for unique local economic and environmental needs. Last, it is important that the utilities be required to provide full information to customers necessary for them to make a fully informed decision about their own participation in a CCA program.

I look forward to your proposed decision on this matter and ask that you hold public hearings in Chula Vista to allow for meaningful public input on CCA implementation from constituents of a City that has been actively involved in this proceeding.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
(Your name)

For more information, contact:
San Diego Apollo Alliance
4545 Viewridge Avenue Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92123
www.sdapollo.org
info@sdapollo.org

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