Clean Energy Alliance details rates, solar-plus and battery programs for Escondido customers

Greg Wade, chief executive officer of the Clean Energy Alliance, told the Escondido City Council on June 4 that the community choice aggregator serves tens of thousands of customers in the region and is introducing several programs aimed at cutting greenhouse gases and peak electricity demand while expanding access to rooftop solar and batteries.

Wade said 53,190 Escondido-area accounts are enrolled in the Alliance’s default Clean Impact Plus product, which he described as providing 50% renewable energy with an additional 25% carbon-free energy ("75% totally carbon free" per Wade). He said 148 customers have chosen lower renewable content. He reviewed rate structures, a key state-mandated comparison to San Diego Gas & Electric, and described the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA) that can appear as an exit fee when customers leave investor-owned utility bundled service.

Wade said the PCIA has been negative in recent months for the Alliance’s territories, producing a credit for customers. He provided current comparative figures: an average winter monthly savings of about $1.67 (seasonal average $11.69) for a typical residential time-of-use customer on the Alliance product, and a summer premium driven by renewable content of about $8.66 monthly (seasonal average $43). He said the net annual average when amortized across the year is roughly a $2.63-per-month premium for Clean Impact Plus. Wade cautioned these numbers depend on SDG&E’s pending rate filings: he said SDG&E submitted a 2026 Energy Resource Recovery Account filing that currently shows higher generation rates and a slightly increased (but still negative, in his view) PCIA for Escondido; he called the filing preliminary and said figures could change before a December update.

Wade described new and expanded customer programs: Peak Smart Savers, Solar Plus (solar with battery, no upfront cost and no credit checks through vetted channel partners), Solar Plus Connect (an income-qualified option supported by state self-generation incentives), and a Battery Bonus for customers who already have solar. Peak Smart Savers offers up to a 30% rate discount for enrolled customers outside of the program’s super off-peak window and imposes a $1.10-per-unit adder during declared events that fall in the 4–9 p.m. peak window; the Alliance said it can call up to 18 events per year but expects to call far fewer, with council members and Wade suggesting the likely number will be nearer half that estimate or perhaps 6–9 days in a typical year. The pilot includes bill protection: if an enrolled customer does not realize net savings in the pilot’s first year, the Alliance will repay the difference.

On Solar Plus, Wade said the program—initially offered through Tesla—was expanded to multiple vetted contractors to allow installations on common clay-tile roofs and to provide a blended financing option that includes batteries. He said the Alliance also offers Solar Plus Connect for income-qualified households and will apply for state self-generation incentive funds on customers’ behalf; Wade cited roughly $280,000,000 statewide and about $80,000,000 available in SDG&E territory for those funds. He emphasized no upfront cost and no credit checks on the Alliance’s direct-install battery offers for qualifying customers.

Council members and Mayor Dang White praised the outreach and urged residents to enroll. Mayor White asked how people sign up; Wade gave a phone number and pointed to the Alliance website (phone: (833) 232-3110) and said program pages are under the “Programs” tab. A public commenter raised concerns about door-to-door solar sales and said the Alliance’s vetted channel partners and training would help reduce predatory practices; Wade said partners receive training and only trained partners may use the Alliance name.

Wade also told the council that the Alliance is preparing an energy program plan to increase enrollment and reach communities of concern, and that staff will continue analyzing SDG&E’s rate and PCIA filings before a final year-end comparison.

The presentation concluded with council encouragement to publicize the Peak Smart and OhmConnect-type programs and to pursue community education events to increase participation.