Atascadero, county to switch to clean energy in January
Partnership is part of a regional effort to provide residents and businesses with a new choice in energy providers
– The City of Atascadero and the County of San Luis Obispo will begin receiving clean, renewable energy from Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) in January 2025. This partnership is part of a regional effort to provide residents and businesses with a new choice in energy providers at stable, predictable rates, along with economic benefits for the community.
Both the city and the county voted to join the agency in 2022 and 2023, respectively. With this addition, the agency’s service area now spans the entire Central Coast region, with the exception of King City, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara, which operate their own public power services.
“This partnership allows the county to take an active role in furthering the transition to clean energy,” said San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg. “By joining forces with 3CE, the county becomes part of a powerful platform to advance clean energy solutions for our region and engage in state-level conversations on energy regulation and policy.”
The agency provides renewable energy procurement services to more than 1 million people along the Central Coast. Pacific Gas and Electric continues to handle power delivery, infrastructure operations, maintenance, and billing. PG&E partners with local governments throughout California to offer consumers a choice in energy generation services. 3CE is one of 25 similar agencies in the state, which together serve 14 million Californians.
“Atascadero’s partnership with 3CE offers our community more choice in clean energy options,” said Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno. “This collaboration not only offers local consumers options for sustainable energy; it brings access to energy programs that help public institutions, residents, and businesses reduce emissions, save money, and improve our quality of life.”
Starting January 1, 2025, electricity customers in Atascadero and unincorporated areas of the county will be automatically enrolled in 3CE’s service unless they choose to opt out. 3CE will conduct community outreach through bilingual webinars, mailers, and public events to inform customers about their options and the benefits of its service, which include rebates for electric vehicles, chargers, electric agricultural equipment, and home electrification projects like residential battery systems.
Customers who are currently enrolled in PG&E’s online billing will receive notifications via email, while others will be notified by mail. Notifications will be sent in November and December 2024, as well as in February and March 2025, once 3CE service begins.
Customers do not need to take any action to begin receiving 3CE service. Households and businesses will transition to the agency’s electric-generation service on their normal January meter-read date. Those who wish to remain with PG&E for generation, transmission, and distribution services may opt-out online or by calling 3CE’s customer service.
As a public agency, 3CE does not earn a profit from its investments and is not beholden to shareholders. In 2024, customers who received service from 3CE and PG&E paid 17% less on their generation service compared to those who remained with PG&E for all services, according to a report from the city.
The agency sets its generation rates annually during publicly held meetings of its Policy Board of Directors, made up of elected officials from the 35 cities and counties in its service area.
For more information, visit 3CEnergy.org.
