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As it relates to rate setting,since 2018,the EBCE Board of Directors have mandated <br /> that the rates of the entry level service of Bright Choice remain 1.5 percent less than <br /> PG&E and the intermediate service level Brilliant 100 remain at price parity with PG&E, <br /> thus tying EBCE'rates to PG&E's rates.When PG&E's rates fluctuate,so do EBCE's. <br /> In the last several months, EBCE has faced financial constraints,which have made it <br /> difficult to remain competitive with PG&E.These constraints include the following: <br /> • In May 2020, PG&E decreased the generation component of the rate by 8 <br /> percent. Since EBCE's rates are tied to PG&E's rates, EBCE made the same <br /> change, resulting in loss in revenue. <br /> • In May 2020,the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment(PCIA),also referred to <br /> as an"exit fee,"increased by 30 percent and will likely increase again in 2021. <br /> The PCIA is annually set by the California Public Utilities Commission(CPUC) <br /> with the intent to ensure that customers who switch to EBCE(and other <br /> Community Choice programs like MCE)pay for energy that was contracted by <br /> PG&E to serve them prior to their switch. Because the EBCE Board has <br /> determined to maintain rates competitive with PG&E,when the PCIA increases, it <br /> reduces EBCE's profit margin. <br /> • Procurement costs for the large hydroelectric power in the Brilliant 100 portfolio <br /> have been higher than expected.While the difference in rates between Bright <br /> Choice and Brilliant 100 is 1.5 percent,the costs of providing Brilliant 100 <br /> exceeds 1.5 percent.As a result,the additional cost is being subsidized by Bright <br /> Choice. <br /> In April 2020,the EBCE Board voted to address the financial concerns in part by <br /> establishing renewable energy content as the benchmark for comparing EBCE's power <br /> content to that of PG&E. Now, EBCE projects the entry level service Bright Choice's <br /> 2021 energy mix to be a minimum of 50.3 percent combined renewable and carbon free <br /> energy(39.5 percent renewable, 10.8 percent large hydro)and with the remainder likely <br /> to be from natural gas which will better control costs. <br /> In June 2020,the EBCE Board approved their annual budget and decided to change <br /> the discount for the entry level service Bright Choice from 1.5 percent to 1.0 percent <br /> below PG&E rates,effective July 1,2020.The Board also decided to maintain the rate <br /> for the service level Renewable 100 at$0.01/kWh more than PG&E rates. <br /> On November 18, 2020,the EBCE Board discussed the following options for <br /> intermediate service level Brilliant 100: <br /> Option A. Discontinue the Brilliant 100 product for all accounts. <br /> Option B.Offer Brilliant 100 at a cost premium above PG&E rates,which would be an <br /> estimated 2 to 5 percent increase or a$2-$3 per month increase for Pleasanton <br /> residential accounts,compared to PG&E rates. <br /> 3 <br />