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Central Coast Community Energy outlines January enrollment for unincorporated county; opt-out details and agricultural pricing pilots explained
Summary
Central Coast Community Energy told the Board of Supervisors it will enroll unincorporated San Luis Obispo County customers starting in January; county customers can opt out penalty-free during the Nov–Mar enrollment window. 3CE said it expects rates to remain competitive and described a pilot hourly-flex program to lower costs for agricultural irrigation accounts.
Central Coast Community Energy officials on Tuesday updated the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors on plans to enroll unincorporated county customers beginning in January and outlined opt-out procedures and customer programs that will be available immediately.
"Customers will be automatically transferred to 3CE for service during their regular January billing cycle," Robert Shaw, 3CE CEO, told the board. Shaw and Catherine Steadman, 3CE chief communications officer, said the agency has sent initial notices and will mail three additional notices during the enrollment period (November–March); residential customers who opt out during that window can do so without penalty.
Steadman said the agency expects to maintain a notable price differential versus Pacific Gas and Electric on the generation portion of bills. "The latest forecast was maintaining about a 15% competitive differential," she said when asked by Supervisor Paulding about 2025 rates, adding that staff would provide dollars-and-cents figures if the board requests them.
Board members pressed for practical opt-out guidance for constituents. Staff walked supervisors through the web path and confirmed a phone option: PG&E customers should use the PG&E opt-out path on 3CE’s site or call 3CE’s customer service center. Shaw emphasized that a customer who remains with 3CE continues to receive a single bill from PG&E (PG&E retains transmission and distribution responsibility).
3CE also described programs targeted to local needs. For agricultural customers, Steadman highlighted an hourly-flex pricing pilot that automates irrigation to use lower-priced hours and refunds customers if pilot participation does not produce savings; Yolo County pilots yielded savings of roughly 20% for some participants. The agency said it will also bring fleet, home electrification, EV and school-bus incentives to county residents.
Public commenters urged scrutiny of governance and long transmission projects; board members asked 3CE to continue outreach and to post clear opt-out instructions. 3CE said it will distribute mailers, run paid and earned media, and be present at local outreach events to assist customers.
What’s next: 3CE will continue the enrollment mailings and community outreach through March; the county will monitor the opt-out rate and customer questions during the initial enrollment.
