Starting in 2027, residents in Paradise will be able to choose if they get electricity from Pacific Gas & Electric or Pioneer Energy after the Paradise town council moved forward with bringing a new energy provider to the Ridge in a effort to save money.


PARADISE, Calif. -People on The Ridge will have a choice in energy providers in the coming years besides PG and E. The move is designed to save customers money. However, there has been some concern about solar customers’ rates.

Pioneer Energy or PG&E—that is the question many folks in Paradise will start asking in a few years after the town council moves forward with bringing a new energy provider up on The Ridge in an effort to save money.

Paradise

Mayor Steve Crowder says the move could save folks 10% on their energy bills.

“Our power bills are pretty hefty. So it means a lot,” Crowder said. 

Like the city of Oroville, Paradise is looking to enter a community choice aggregation with Pioneer Energy. Pioneer Energy uses PG&E infrastructure but essentially resells electricity at a more affordable price.

“PG&E will still bill you, but you’ll see on your statement the charge from Pioneer. Basically, they’re going out and they’re buying electricity on the open market, and they’re competing with PG&E is what they’re doing, but it’s being delivered through PG&E’s transmission lines and all of that,” Crowder said. 

Crowder says there is a small downside that has some concern.

“It is not something that you will have to enroll in. It’s something you’ll have to opt out of. Otherwise, you will automatically go there. It can be done with a simple phone call, and you’re free to opt-out,” Crowder said. 

There is some concern about how the switchover might affect solar customers.

PG&E rates changed one year ago, resulting in significantly smaller savings for new solar customers, but the rate did not change for existing solar customers.

“Well, there are two solar rates now, the older rate and the newer rate, and they’re huge. So I wanted to get in writing from PG&E that if you left them and went with Pioneer and you didn’t like it for whatever reason, you could go back to PG&E, and you could get in at whatever solar rate you were on before you left. And I did get that letter, and that is absolutely the case,” Crowder said.

Crowder says the switchover won’t happen until 2027. Crowder says there will be a second reading on this resolution to be approved at the next town council meeting, and that is February 11.