The Regular City Council Meeting for the City of Lincoln took place on May 14, 2025, focusing on various community initiatives and updates. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation by Jake Trumble from Pioneer Community Energy, which serves as a locally owned, not-for-profit electricity provider in the region.

Trumble provided an overview of Pioneer’s commitment to saving customers money amid rising energy costs. Since its inception in 2018, Pioneer has saved ratepayers a total of $108 million, with an additional $31 million in savings projected for 2025. Specifically, residents in Lincoln have benefited from $10.1 million in savings through 2024. Trumble highlighted that Pioneer’s rates for 2025 are, on average, 10% lower than those of PG&E, particularly in the generation portion of the bill.

In addition to competitive pricing, Pioneer has launched several new programs aimed at further assisting customers. These initiatives, developed with input from the community advisory committee, include the Grid Gen program, which offers solar and battery solutions with no upfront costs or credit checks. Pioneer also collaborates with local retailers to provide discounts on energy-efficient products and offers rebates for air conditioner maintenance. The PowerShift program incentivizes reduced energy use during peak demand periods.

Trumble announced plans for future investments in local microgrids to support vulnerable populations during outages, reinforcing Pioneer’s commitment to community reinvestment. He also mentioned upcoming "field days" where customers can receive assistance with billing questions, encouraging community engagement through events listed on Pioneer’s website and social media.

The presentation concluded with positive feedback from council members, including expressions of satisfaction from Pioneer customers. The meeting underscored Pioneer Community Energy's ongoing efforts to provide affordable and reliable energy solutions while actively engaging with the Lincoln community.