Commercial electricity accounts transition to 100% renewable energy in October. Learn about your electricity service options, including at Aug 23 and Sept 13 webinars.
Wind and solar power will be the default choice for electricity for all Berkeley businesses starting in October.
This shift toward entirely renewable sources as Berkeley businesses' default electricity plans will cost ¾ of a cent more per kilowatt-hour, roughly 2.3 percent higher than PG&E rates for a small commercial or industrial customer. It requires no action to stay on that plan and reduces the City's reliance on fossil fuels.
All City buildings and streetlights have already transitioned to wind and solar power through East Bay Community Energy, the non-profit local energy provider for Berkeley. The Berkeley City Council voted in June 2021 to make solar and wind power the default choice for residential customers, for whom it went into effect March 2022, and commercial customers, which will happen in October.
This transition is being mirrored across Alameda County, including the cities of Albany, Emeryville, Dublin, Hayward, San Leandro, and Pleasanton. EBCE recently sent notices about the change in the default choice, which EBCE labels as Renewable 100.
Learn more about your choices below, via the EBCE website, or at an August 23 or September 13 webinar.
Choices with your electricity service
Power your business with whichever option works best for you. Take no action and you'll be transitioned to Renewable 100. If you want to stick with your current plan, do so by September 22.
Your electric service choices through East Bay Community Energy are:
- Renewable 100 service, which is 100% California wind and solar renewable energy, costs ¾ of a cent more per kilowatt-hour than PG&E’s standard generation rate.
- Bright Choice service costs 3% less than PG&E’s standard generation rate for electricity that is 50% from renewable sources.
To remain with the current default plan, Bright Choice, and avoid automatic enrollment to Renewable 100, update your online settings by September 22.
Online: Visit ebce.org/Berkeley and click on "Remain on Bright Choice"
Phone: (833) 699-3223, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm on weekdays
Learn more about the changes at upcoming webinars
To learn more and ask business-specific questions about the service changes, join one of the following online webinars hosted by East Bay Community Energy (EBCE):
EBCE, our local community choice green energy supplier, has been serving Berkeley customers with Bright Choice since 2018. They provide electricity to the grid that PG&E delivers. PG&E also delivers gas, maintains the power lines, responds to outages, and provides the billing services.
More ways to fight climate change
Businesses that wish to do more to fight climate change and demonstrate environmental leadership should also consider getting certified as a California Green Business.
The City of Berkeley Office of Economic Development, in partnership with the California Green Business Network, offers free assistance to local businesses to help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, conserve water, and divert solid waste from the landfill.
Learn more about your electric service choices. Customers can also contact EBCE's call center at (833) 699-3223 during business hours, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm on weekdays.
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