SANTA PAULA — At its regular meeting on June 7, the Santa Paula City Council advanced the City’s agreement with the Clean Power Alliance (CPA) by selecting a default rate option for the City and its residents.
CPA is Southern California’s locally operated electricity provider and gives the power of choice to customers, allowing them to choose the plan that works best for their particular circumstances. CPA sources clean, renewable power such as wind, solar, bioenergy, geothermal and small hydroelectric at competitive rates, which helps communities achieve their climate action goals and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Services are still delivered and billed by SCE, preventing any disruptions to customers’ power supply when they switch.
“By moving forward in this process, Santa Paula is taking a significant step toward a cleaner, greener future,” said Mayor Andy Sobel. “We are proud to provide our residents with access to clean energy options, ensuring a sustainable path for our community.”
The City has chosen the 100% Green Power tier as its default option, aligning with its dedication to choosing cost effective options for its residents while maintaining its sustainability efforts. Santa Paula residents and businesses do not need to take action to enroll in the program–starting in March 2024, all customers will automatically be switched to renewable power. All operational and service-related issues will still be handled through SCE. For instance, if your neighborhood experiences a power outage, SCE will still handle the repairs.
Though enrollment in 100% Green Power will be done by default, residents and businesses will have the option to opt-down to the Clean Power and Lean Power options or opt out of the program completely and retain their service from SCE. Customers who are unsure which option is right for them can utilize CPA’s bill calculator tool to compare your current rate. CPA currently offers three energy tier options:
- Lean Power – 40% clean energy, currently 2% cheaper than Edison
- Clean Power – 50% clean energy, currently 1% cheaper than Edison
- 100% Green Power -100% clean energy, currently 3% more expensive than Edison
For customers utilizing SCE-CARE, customers will automatically remain in the CARE program and enjoy the following rates for the three energy tier options:
- Lean Power – 40% clean energy, currently 3% cheaper than Edison
- Clean Power – 50% clean energy, currently 1.5% cheaper than Edison
- 100% Green Power – 100% clean energy, currently 1.5% cheaper than Edison
After a grassroots movement from residents last year, the June 7y. CPA accepted Santa Paula’s membership application in December 2022. Through March 2024, CPA and the City will continue to take steps to move the City and its residents to cleaner and more cost effective energy sources.
CPA offers a range of programs for cities and customers to get even more benefits, including programs for low-income households. Clean Power Alliance’s Power Share program provides income-qualified customers in under-resourced communities with 100% renewable energy and a 20% discount. Customers who would not otherwise have access to solar, wind or other renewable technologies can benefit themselves and the planet by joining the Power Share program. When combined with CARE or FERA discounts, customers can save up to 45% off their monthly electric bill.
For additional information regarding the Clean Power Alliance, please contact Jonathan Royas, Management Analyst, at (805) 525-4478 or jroyas@spcity.org.