PG&E has asked permission from the California Public Utilities Commission to offer all its bundled electric customers an opportunity to support 100% renewable energy from new small and mid-sized solar projects located in PG&E’s service area. PG&E expects a decision from the CPUC in mid-2014, and if approved, expects to offer the program to customers in the first half of 2015.

PG&E files Enhanced Community Renewables Option

On February 21st, 2014, PG&E filed a proposal for an Enhanced Community Renewable option with the CPUC. This option would supplement PG&E’s prior voluntary green power option. Under PG&E’s new proposal, customers would have two ways to participate:

• Customers can pay for the output from a pool of small to mid-sized solar projects within PG&E’s service territory.
• Customers can pay for the output from a solar project near them of their choosing.

PG&E looks forward to working with the Commission and others in this proceeding so that it may begin offering a shared renewables program to its customers in the first half of 2015.

SB 43 Has Been Approved! (September 28, 2013)

PG&E is excited to share some news that will impact the Shared Renewables settlement proposal that PG&E and other parties submitted to the CPUC earlier this year: SB 43, the Green Tariff Shared Renewables Program bill, was approved by Governor Brown on September 28, 2013.

SB 43 establishes the Green Tariff Shared Renewables Program, a 600 Megawatt statewide program that will allow the customers of investor-owned utilities – including local governments, businesses, schools, homeowners, municipal customers, and renters – to purchase up to 100 percent of their electricity from a renewable energy facility. The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission, by July 1, 2014, to issue a decision concerning the participating utility’s application, determining whether to approve or disapprove the application, with or without modifications. The bill would require the Commission, after notice and opportunity for public comment, to approve the application if the Commission determines that the proposed program is reasonable and consistent with the legislative findings and statements of intent. The bill would require the Commission to require that a participating utility’s green tariff shared renewables program be administered in accordance with specified provisions.

Update Regarding PG&E’s Application for a Voluntary Green Option (April 12, 2013)

PG&E has reached an agreement with a diverse group of consumer and clean energy groups to enhance its proposed “Green Option” to give electric customers an opportunity to support 100 percent renewable energy. The revised proposal, which was submitted on April 11th for approval by the California Public Utilities Commission, would provide participating customers with energy from new small- and mid-sized solar projects located in PG&E’s service area.

PG&E original proposal, issued last year with support from elected officials and the environmental community, provided customers with an option to buy renewable energy certificates from new and existing projects, including those outside PG&E’s service area. The new proposal would allow customers to directly support the development of new projects that generate clean energy in and around the communities that PG&E serves.

PG&E worked closely with The Utility Reform Network, Coalition of California Utility Employees, the Joint Parties and other parties to shape this program.

Under the new plan, participants will pay the full cost of the new renewable energy supplies built in direct response to their enrollment. Those additional supplies—provided under long-term contracts by third-party developers—will be incremental to the clean energy that PG&E purchases for all of its customers. Participating customers will also receive credits for avoided PG&E generation costs, making the program more affordable. PG&E will actively market the plan throughout its service area, including low-income and minority communities.