Pioneer Community Energy

About Us

Planning our Future Together

Letter from Don Eckert, Chief Executive Officer

Dear Pioneer Community Energy Customers:

As the Chief Executive Officer, I am immensely proud of the staff of Pioneer Community Energy and their dedication to service for our colleagues and customers alike. We at Pioneer are doing our part to make the communities we serve a great place to live, work, and play. Read more from our Chief Executive Officer. 

Learn More About Pioneer

Pioneer's Mission

Pioneer Community Energy is a locally owned provider of electricity — powering the communities we serve with competitive rates, exceptional service and a choice in energy options.

Pioneer's Vision

A community partner in reliable energy solutions and positive local impact, powering today and empowering tomorrow.

Pioneer's Values

Our organizational values define how we behave in the delivery of our mission and in the achievement of our vision. We believe it is important to stand for something and be accountable to those we serve. The following four values guide the way we prioritize and deliver our work and help shape a dynamic culture where our people thrive.

We are powered by the communities we serve — not corporate shareholders. From the local Board of Directors representing our region to local customer service representatives who are a phone call away, we provide energy for the community, by the community.

We know our customers depend on us, and we go above and beyond to provide stable and competitive rates. The communities we serve can rely on us to be a transparent and ethical source of power.

We instill excellence throughout our service. This means delivering a professional customer service experience and focusing our work on providing dependable sources of electricity. Powering what matters most in our community is our priority.

This distinguishes Pioneer from investor-owned PG&E. Because we are community-owned, we advocate for the region and offer a choice in energy. Pioneer invests in local businesses, grid resiliency and community well-being — not corporate payouts.

History of Pioneer Community Energy

Pioneer Community Energy is a local not-for-profit provider of electricity — we power the communities we serve with competitive rates, exceptional service and a choice in energy options.

Pioneer was formed in 2017, joining the other California Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) in providing energy to more than 11 million customers across the state. We started providing electricity services in 2018 to Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Rocklin, Loomis and most of unincorporated Placer County, achieving status as an independent entity in 2021 with the payoff of debts and the hiring of necessary operational staff.

In response to our customers’ requests to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, in 2021, we began offering Green100, a 100% renewable rate option unique to the area.

In 2022, we started providing the same stable and exceptional electric service to most of unincorporated El Dorado County and the City of Placerville. In 2024, we proudly added the cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City to our territory. With growing interest in Pioneer, we anticipate continued expansion in the coming years.

Our governing board consists of local elected representatives from ten member agencies including El Dorado County and Placer County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Placerville, Rocklin, Nevada City, Grass Valley and the Town of Loomis. 

For more details about Pioneer, please visit our videos page for videos from past events and webinars. 

Pioneer's Awards

Woman receiving award

Find Energy Award

Pioneer Wins Award for the Lowest Residential Electric Generation Rates in California for 2020.

Strategic Plan Award

Pioneer’s Strategic Plan wins 2021 MarCom Gold for Print Media Annual Report reports for Utilities.

Website Redesign Award

Pioneer’s Strategic Plan wins 2022 MarCom Gold for Website Redesign.

Website and Chatbot

Pioneer wins 2023 dotCOMM awards Gold Award for website and chatbot

Brand and Website Refresh

Pioneer wins 2023 PRSA Influence Award in the Electronic/Digital Category for Brand and Website Refresh.

Chatbot Award

Pioneer wins 2023 PRSA Award of Merit in the Electronic/Digital Category for Chatbot – 24/7 Customer Support.

Pioneer's Awards

Woman receiving award

Find Energy Award

Pioneer Wins Award for the Lowest Residential Electric Generation Rates in California for 2020.

Strategic Plan Award

Pioneer’s Strategic Plan wins 2021 MarCom Gold for Print Media Annual Report reports for Utilities.

Website Redesign Award

Pioneer’s Strategic Plan wins 2022 MarCom Gold for Website Redesign.

Website and Chatbot

Pioneer wins 2023 dotCOMM awards Gold Award for website and chatbot

Brand and Website Refresh

Pioneer wins 2023 PRSA Influence Award in the Electronic/Digital Category for Brand and Website Refresh.

Chatbot Award

Pioneer wins 2023 PRSA Award of Merit in the Electronic/Digital Category for Chatbot – 24/7 Customer Support.

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