PG&E has increased rates for all customers to support their poles and wires (T&D). This affects Pioneer and non-Pioneer customers equally – everyone’s rates will go up the exact same dollar amount.
Don’t be misled. We guarantee that Pioneer’s savings over PG&E have not changed. Calculate your savings in El Dorado and Placer County.

Meet Your Pioneer Staff

Leadership Team

Don manages Pioneer’s day-to-day operations and steers the organization as a whole. In his spare time, you’ll find Don exploring the richness and diversity of Placer and El Dorado counties. Don, a self-proclaimed history buff, finds “this region to be one of California’s greatest places to discover the past.”

Sam brings more than 25 years of experience in the areas of energy commodity portfolio planning, transaction structuring, energy procurement and risk management to his role as COO of Pioneer Community Energy, with additional experience in renewable and conventional power project development. Before joining Pioneer, Sam spent many years as an executive for both PG&E and Pacific Energy Advisors, performing portfolio resource planning, transaction structuring, energy procurement and risk management in the areas of renewable energy, energy storage and distributed energy resources. Sam likes to stay busy on his time off and enjoys golf, tennis, SCUBA diving and eating all kinds of food.

Mark prides himself on enhancing internal and external relationships while leading Pioneer’s efforts to provide exemplary community and customer service. Mark loves the San Francisco Giants, hiking in the Sierra foothills and sampling the various craft beers made in our region.

Brad oversees Pioneer’s business administration, budget and rate-setting components. He has called the foothills and mountains of the Sierras home for his entire adult life, making his go-to activities of hiking and kayaking easy to enjoy right in his own backyard.

Pioneer Team

Eric supports Pioneer in a variety of financial functions including budgeting, contract administration, power settlements and accounts payable/receivable oversight. Eric enjoys hiking, backpacking, learning new music, tackling DIY projects and spending time with family and friends.

Zach covers both legislative matters and regulatory proceedings at the California Public Utilities Commission. He enjoys working with Community Choice Aggregators, particularly with the emphasis on community at Pioneer. When not focused on public utility legislation , Zach enjoys camping, the outdoors and exploring the Sierra Nevada Mountains with his family and friends.

As the Key Accounts Manager, Paige is responsible for supporting Pioneer’s commercial customer’s energy needs. When she isn’t working, Paige enjoys reading, baking, gardening, and hikes with her family, including her two dogs.

Steve manages the critical area of information technology and facilities at Pioneer. In his free time, Steve plays golf, mountain bikes and coaches local youth baseball, softball and soccer teams. He also serves his community as a volunteer board member on various sports commissions.

Devin brings his skills in economic forecasting and energy trading to Pioneer. He procures renewable and conventional energy, manages resource adequacy and related products. Through his analysis of portfolio risk and value related to power generation, load forecasts and scheduling, Devin develops hedging strategies which support Pioneer’s reliable and affordable energy solutions. An avid golfer and snowboarder, Devin also enjoys hiking and the other outdoor activities the region has to offer.

Alexia brings extensive communications, regulatory and customer service experience to her role as Customer Service Specialist at Pioneer Community Energy. In her spare time, Alexia supports several community nonprofits and is earning her black belt in karate. A proponent of sustainability and clean energy, Alexia spent more than 20 years with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and currently serves as a Placer County Fish and Game Commissioner.

Kirstin received a bachelor’s degree in political science from U.C. Riverside and a master’s degree from Sacramento State University in Government.  She has worked in and around the Capitol in various capacities including Chief of Staff to two Assembly Members, appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to work in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, lobbied for the League of California Cities, and the California Forestry Association, and most recently worked in the Assembly Republican Caucus as the Republican Consultant for both Natural Resources Committee and Budget Subcommittee #3.

I have 6 years of experience in the solar industry as project coordinator and manager, specifically for residential and agricultural systems. In my free time I enjoy gardening, cooking, and spending time outdoors with my family. I also try to make time for my creative passion: watercolor and mural painting.

Colleen enjoys her role as a Financial & Administrative Analyst with Pioneer Community Energy along with providing a positive interaction with our local communities and its neighbors.  She has two values that she strives to maintain, “treat others the way you would want to be treated” and show “human kindness”.  When not working, Colleen enjoys gardening and spending time with her feline friends as an animal advocate that supports the local SPCA.

As a Master Municipal Clerk and the first Board Clerk & Executive Assistant at Pioneer Community Energy, Teresa brings her knowledge and experience to all clerk-related aspects of Pioneer, its Governing Board, and various committees. Teresa holds faith and family in high priority; enjoys the beauty and serenity found on the trail and at the water’s edge, and looks forward to adventurous travel opportunities.

Your comments, concerns and inquiries are important to Pioneer Community Energy. We look forward to responding during normal business hours Mon–Friday, 8 am – 5 pm.

Solar Customers Receive Annual True-Up

Pioneer issued checks to solar customers with a cumulative net surplus of energy (known as Net Surplus Generators) during May for the March/April billing period if their credit balance (calculated at the Net Surplus Compensation Rate) for the past 12 months exceeded $25.00. Credit balances of less than $25.00 were rolled forward and applied to the next bill.

A few of our clients have contacted us to confirm the check’s authenticity. Rest assured, it is indeed real! If you receive a Blue or Orange check from Bill.com with a reference to Pioneer, it is safe to deposit. 

We take pride in helping our solar customers save; Pioneer pays $.005 (1/2 cent) per kWh more than PG&E for any over-production sold back to the grid (Net Surplus Compensation Rate or NSC).Â