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Peninsula Clean Energy says Los Banos customers saving on electricity, local solar projects coming online
Summary
Peninsula Clean Energy updated the Los Banos City Council on programs and local installations that the agency says are delivering roughly $7 million in benefits to the city and an 11% net bill discount compared with PG&E starting Feb. 10.
Peninsula Clean Energy officials told the Los Banos City Council on Feb. 5 that the community is already seeing direct savings and local clean-energy projects after the city joined the agency.
The update, delivered by a PCE representative and local staff, said PCE estimates roughly $7 million in benefits have flowed to Los Banos customers and that a recent board action will yield a generation-rate discount equal to 10% off PG&E generation rates, producing an estimated net bill differential of about 11% for local customers beginning Monday, Feb. 10.
Why it matters: City leaders said the lower cost and local projects could reduce operating costs for municipal facilities, add resilience and offer incentives for electrification and electric vehicles — priorities in the city’s climate and facilities planning.
PCE representatives listed several programs available to residents and businesses. Among them: - A 0% on-bill financing loan of up to $10,000 repayable on a customer’s utility bill for rooftop solar, batteries, electrification or efficiency upgrades. - Grants, rebates and technical assistance for home electrification and low-income upgrades. - Incentives and infrastructure support for electric vehicle chargers, including installation support for apartment buildings and public chargers. - A voluntary “100% renewable” product that customers may purchase for an additional per-kilowatt-hour premium.
Local projects and procurement: PCE said it is an offtaker for a tranche of the nearby Billy Wright project and that local installations recently completed include solar for the city community center and the wastewater treatment plant, which the presenter said will reduce city facility bills. The presenter noted the agency is prepared to return with battery pairings and additional resiliency options for city-owned facilities.
The presenter introduced local PCE staff present at the meeting, including Viri Renteria, identified in the presentation as the senior community outreach specialist living in Los Banos, and said PCE’s board has representation from local elected officials.
What officials said: Council members thanked PCE for the program materials and asked staff to provide the slideshow and written materials for public use. Council members also asked clarifying questions about how battery storage functions with solar and whether EV charger revenue flows to the city or to private owners; PCE staff said fees are typically collected by the site operator (for example, an apartment owner) when chargers are installed as a customer amenity, though public chargers installed on city land can be managed differently.
Next steps: PCE staff said the city may apply for additional local-government solar, electrification grants and battery add-ons for city facilities, and council members asked staff to place PCE materials on the city website.
