A new energy program called San Diego Community Power rolls out over 700,000 residential customer accounts in five San Diego County cities, including Chula Vista.
Power contracts made in San Diego, Chula Vista, La Mesa, Encinitas, and Imperial Beach will begin service with the new energy provider starting in February and through May. The incorporated communities of San Diego and the City of National City will be serviced in 2023.
In 2016, the California Legislature created community choice aggregators (CCAs) to promote cleaner energy sources. Per state law, electric customers in a jurisdiction are automatically enrolled when a municipality joins a CCA.
However, other services, such as transmission and distribution of electricity and customer billing will be offered by traditional power companies like SDG&E. Those who wish to opt-out by calling SDCP at 1-888-382-0169 or going to sdcommunitypower.org/your-choice/opt-out/.
San Diego County saw its first CCA last year with Clean Energy Alliance, now serving over 60,000 customers in Carlsbad, Del Mar, and Solana Beach. In March, the SDCP was launched.
There will be more than 556,000 residential customers in Chula Vista and San Diego will make the transition in May. The SDCP will begin enrolling customers of Imperial beach in February, La Mesa in March, and Encinitas in April.
The rates offered by SDCP are anticipated to cost less than traditional power companies like SDG&E. During a January SDCP board meeting, officials calculated that the average residential monthly bill comes to $168.08, compared to $169.61 for an average SDG&E residential bill for energy that is powered from renewable sources by 50 percent.
During a Jan.20 board meeting, the SDCP announced a city-specific paid media campaign that will run for two months per city beginning one week before service to “continue to build awareness and combat any customer anxiety over bill changes".
The media campaign includes print outlets include the Union-Tribune, San Diego Reader, and community newspapers such as El Latino, the Filipino Press, and the San Diego Chinese Tribune. Facebook, Nextdoor, and Twitter are social media platforms that will be included.
