Otis Singleton
PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric) customers can choose to receive their power from third-party electricity providers, such as East Bay Community Energy. This means that the electricity itself is generated by another company, while PG&E is still responsible for distribution. Customers can also choose to enroll in third-party demand response programs, which provide incentives to reduce electricity consumption during peak demand. To do this, customers must authorize PG&E to share their electricity usage data with the third-party provider.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Third-party electricity is when another company generates your electricity, while PG&E is responsible for distribution. |
| Example | East Bay Community Energy |
| Cost | It is rarely cheaper than PG&E. |
| Discounts | Customers on a Community Choice Energy Aggregator (CCA) service receive a monthly bill credit from PG&E (called the Generation Credit) that offsets the CCA charges. |
| Comparison | EBCE rates for Bright Choice service are 1-3% below PG&E rates. |
| Self-generation | PG&E offers a self-generation program for businesses to access electricity directly from transmission lines. |
| Demand response | Customers can enroll in third-party demand response programs to receive incentives for reducing electricity consumption during peak demand. |
| Data sharing | Customers can authorize PG&E to share electricity usage data with third parties. |
| Privacy | Customers can stop sharing data at any time by canceling their authorization in their PG&E online account. |
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What You'll Learn
- PG&E customers can enrol in third-party demand response programs
- PG&E shares customer data with third-party Demand Response Providers (DRPs)
- Customers can stop sharing data with third parties at any time
- Customers can access electricity directly from transmission lines
- Community Choice Energy Aggregators (CCAs) provide alternative energy options
PG&E customers can enrol in third-party demand response programs
Under Electric Rule 24, PG&E customers can enrol in demand response programs offered by third-party Demand Response Providers (DRPs). Rule 24 allows third-party DRPs to solicit PG&E customers to participate in their demand response programs and to then "bid in" the electricity reduction into the wholesale electricity market administered by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved Electric Rule 24 with the goal of promoting demand response participation in CAISO markets and helping California achieve its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.
To participate in a third-party demand response program, customers must authorize PG&E to share their electricity usage data and certain account information with a DRP of their choice. This includes the customer's name associated with the electric account, service address, rate schedule, meter type, electric usage data, and PG&E demand response program enrollment information. The process for authorizing data sharing varies by DRP, but a required step is for the customer to give PG&E consent to share their data with the DRP by completing PG&E's Rule 24 data-sharing authorization.
It is important to note that customers cannot be enrolled in a PG&E demand response program and a third-party DRP program during the same time period. If a customer is currently enrolled in a conflicting PG&E program, they must unenroll from the PG&E program before enrolling with a third-party DRP. Similarly, if a customer is enrolled in a third-party demand response program, they must unenroll from the third-party program before enrolling in a PG&E Demand Response program.
PG&E offers a variety of demand response programs for large, medium, and small customers, including the Base Interruptible Program (BIP) and the Capacity Bidding Program (CBP). Each program has different requirements for load reductions during declared events, and customers are given advance notice of at least 15 or 30 minutes, depending on their enrollment option.
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PG&E shares customer data with third-party Demand Response Providers (DRPs)
Under Electric Rule 24, PG&E electric customers can enroll in demand response programs offered by third-party Demand Response Providers (DRPs). These programs incentivize customers to reduce their electricity consumption during peak demand periods. Customers cannot be enrolled in both a PG&E demand response program and a third-party DRP program simultaneously.
To participate in a third-party DRP program, customers must authorize PG&E to share their electricity usage data and account information with the DRP. This can be done through the online process or by completing and signing the CISR-DRP form, which is then submitted to PG&E for validation and processing. Customers can revoke data-sharing authorization at any time by contacting the Rule 24 team.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved Electric Rule 24 to promote demand response participation in CAISO markets and help California achieve its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. Third-party DRPs must register with the CPUC and obtain customer authorization to access electricity usage data.
Customers with third-party electric providers often expect discounted rates, especially from renewable energy sources. However, some customers report that third-party providers are more expensive. If customers are unsatisfied with their third-party provider, they can call PG&E to switch back to using them for electricity generation.
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Customers can stop sharing data with third parties at any time
Customers of PG&E can stop sharing their data with third parties at any time. To participate in demand response services provided by a third-party Demand Response Provider (DRP), customers must authorise PG&E to share their electricity usage data and account information. This is done by downloading the terms and conditions for sharing customer data with a third-party DRP, and selecting a link on a DRP's website that goes to the PG&E Share My Data login page.
However, customers can revoke this authorisation whenever they like by logging in to their PG&E online account and cancelling their authorisation. This is a straightforward process, and customers can also register for a My Energy account to manage their authorisations online.
It is important to note that customers cannot be enrolled in a PG&E demand response program or rate product (such as SmartRate, Emergency Load Reduction Program, SmartAC, CBP, and BIP) and enrolled with a third-party DRP simultaneously. Therefore, if a customer wishes to enrol with a third-party DRP, they must first discontinue participation in their current PG&E program.
Under Electric Rule 24, PG&E electric customers can enrol in demand response programs offered by third-party DRPs. These programs provide customers with incentives to reduce their electricity consumption during times of peak demand. Rule 24 allows third-party DRPs to solicit PG&E customers to participate in their demand response programs and then "bid in" the electricity reduction into the wholesale electricity market administered by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO).
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Customers can access electricity directly from transmission lines
PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric Company) is a utility company that provides natural gas and electricity to customers in Northern and Central California. In California, the big three utilities were required to sell off their generating stations, meaning customers can now access electricity directly from transmission lines through a third-party provider.
One example of a third-party provider is East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), a Community Choice Energy Aggregator (CCA). Customers on a CCA service will receive a monthly bill credit from PG&E (called the Generation Credit) that offsets the charges from the CCA. In the case of EBCE, their rates are lower than PG&E's, and they often use renewable energy sources like wind turbines.
PG&E customers can also enroll in third-party demand response programs, where they receive incentives to reduce their electricity consumption during peak demand. To participate, customers must authorize PG&E to share their electricity usage data and account information with the third party. This is done through the PG&E Share My Data tool, where customers log in with their PG&E online account credentials. They can also fill out and submit the Customer Information Service Request-Demand Response Provider (CISR-DRP) form, which is then validated and processed by PG&E before releasing the requested customer information to the third party.
It is important to note that customers cannot be enrolled in a PG&E demand response program and a third-party program simultaneously. Additionally, customers can elect to stop sharing data with a third party at any time by logging into their PG&E online account and cancelling their authorization.
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Community Choice Energy Aggregators (CCAs) provide alternative energy options
PG&E or Pacific Gas and Electric is a utility company that provides gas and electricity to residents and businesses. PG&E also offers alternative third-party gas and electricity options to its customers.
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is a program that allows local governments to purchase power on behalf of their residents, businesses, and municipal accounts from an alternative supplier. CCAs are currently authorized in California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, and seven other states. CCAs are an attractive option for communities that want more local control over their electricity sources, greener power, and/or lower electricity prices.
CCAs provide alternative energy options to PG&E. CCAs allow cities and counties to provide other energy options to their residents and businesses, and they don't rely on PG&E. CCAs can source electricity from clean and renewable energy resources, keeping electricity rates competitive for customers.
For example, customers on a CCA service like East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) will see the charge and will also receive a monthly bill credit from PG&E (called the Generation Credit) that offsets the EBCE charges. EBCE rates for Bright Choice service are 1% below PG&E rates, but the discount will increase to 3%.
Other CCAs include Pioneer Community Energy, Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA), and San Jose Clean Energy (SJCE). PG&E delivers electricity from these CCAs and remains an essential partner for power distribution, service, and billing.
CCA customers continue to receive the same delivery and maintenance services from their local utility, with a single utility bill that reflects the change in the electricity supplier. The only changes for customers are the sources and prices of electricity generation.
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Frequently asked questions
PG&E customers can choose to have their electricity generated by a third-party Demand Response Provider (DRP) such as East Bay Community Energy. The PG&E charge is then for distribution only.
To participate in a demand response service provided by a third-party DRP, you will need to authorise PG&E to share your electricity usage data and account information with a DRP of your choice. You can do this by downloading the terms and conditions for sharing customer data with a third-party DRP, and selecting a link on a DRP's website that goes to your PG&E Share My Data login page.
You can elect to stop sharing data with a third party at any time by logging in to your PG&E online account and cancelling your authorisation.
