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Council approves Lancaster Energy summer bill credit: $40 monthly to eligible accounts
Summary
The council unanimously approved a Lancaster Energy program that will credit eligible customer accounts $40 per month for July, August and September 2026 (total $120) using Lancaster Energy surplus funds; staff said no city general-fund impact and no customer application required.
The Lancaster City Council unanimously approved a summer bill-credit program that will give eligible Lancaster Energy customers a $40 monthly credit for July, August and September 2026 — $120 per account total — funded from Lancaster Energy surplus funds.
Cindy Valdivia, the city's Lancaster Energy analyst, told the council the community choice aggregator (CCA) purchases electricity on behalf of residents while Southern California Edison continues to deliver and bill customers. Valdivia said Lancaster Energy’s local control and careful financial planning have generated surpluses that can be reinvested in the community without drawing on the city’s general fund.
Under the approved program, eligible accounts will receive the credit directly on their bills under a Lancaster Energy benefit-credit line; no customer application is required. Staff said the program is intended to provide immediate relief during Lancaster’s high summer electricity use and does not affect city general-fund revenues.
Council members praised the measure as targeted relief during peak months. Staff will implement billing changes with the utility provider so the credit appears automatically on eligible accounts’ bills during the specified months.
Next steps: Lancaster Energy staff will apply the credit to qualifying accounts in July–September 2026 and return to council if there are material changes to program costs or eligibility.
