Title
Adopt a Resolution Selecting Bright Choice as the Default Product for San Leandro Customers Served by Ava Community Energy
Staffreport
SUMMARY
Per a request from the Mayor, City staff presents for the City Council's consideration the attached draft Resolution that, if adopted by majority vote of the Council, would revert the default energy plan provided to San Leandro Ava Community Energy customers to be "Bright Choice" (BC), instead of "Renewable 100" (R-100). The Ava Bright Choice plan is the least expensive option. San Leandro residents or business owners who wish to purchase an energy package that is wholly derived from renewable sources would still retain the ability to opt-in to the Renewable 100 plan.
BACKGROUND
Ava Community Energy (formerly East Bay Community Energy) is a local, not-for-profit electricity provider, functioning as a Community Choice Aggregator throughout Alameda County that supplies cleaner power than PG&E by sourcing generation from renewable sources and reinvests some of its net operating revenue back into the community. PG&E delivers the power and manages the grid.
Below is a comparison of available energy plans as currently posted on the Ava Community Energy public website:
* Ava Renewable 100 (R-100) - 100% renewable sources (e.g. wind & solar), priced at 1 3/4 cent per kWh above PG&E rates.
* Ava Bright Choice (BC) - 62% renewable sources, priced at 0.5% below PG&E rates.
* PG&E - 23% renewable sources, priced at 0.5% above Ava Bright Choice rates.
MAYOR'S ANALYSIS
The primary intent of the proposed City Council resolution is to balance sustainability goals with economic equity for all San Leandro residents and businesses. According to the state of California, the City is officially designated as a disadvantaged community, with a median household income that lags Alameda County's median by more than $20,000 per year. When the City Council voted in 2021 to opt-up the entire community's default power mix to R-100...
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