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With Pioneer, You Have a Choice in Residential Electricity

Why Choose Pioneer

Pioneer Community Energy, serving communities since 2018, now serving Placer and El Dorado Counties, Grass Valley and Nevada City. Pioneer powers the communities it serves with competitive rates, exceptional service, a choice in energy options and community-focused programs meeting the needs of its residents and businesses.

Choose Pioneer

Choosing Pioneer Community Energy for your residential energy needs is easy. Customers can choose to enroll in two ways, either by clicking the Enroll Now button below or by phone.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pioneer

Imagine choosing your electricity provider. Pioneer Community Energy (Pioneer) is a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), offering you this choice. CCAs, like Pioneer, are not-for-profit public agencies that purchase electricity for residents and businesses in your community. Pioneer enters into power purchase contracts that are cost-effective and maintain downward pressure on rates. Like most energy providers, Pioneer pools power demand from all customers to create competition for this essential resource – electricity. This proven pooling strategy keeps rates stable, service exceptional and offers you a choice of energy providers.

The first California CCA was formed in 2010. Now 200 towns, cities, and counties throughout the state participate in 24 operational CCAs serving more than 11 million customers. With many more in process, this trend will continue to grow.

 

Due to legislation passed, when California CCAs are established, members of new communities or customers that start service at a new address are automatically enrolled. This automatic enrollment was implemented to benefit customers rather than investor-owned utilities. All customers are enrolled to ensure that everyone has fair access to energy choices and no one is left out. We believe it should be your power and your choice. We work with members of the community to answer any of your questions about CCAs or your commercial utility bill and provide you with support to make informed decisions about your energy use and providers.

Pioneer customers saved more than $85 million from 2018-2023, with an additional $41 million in anticipated savings in 2024. Electrical energy rates vary, however, and lower rates are not always guaranteed.

Pioneer was recently recognized by Find Energy as the 2020 “Energy Provider of the Year,” for having the lowest residential generation rates in California.

Customers who opt out of Pioneer Community Energy as their electric energy provider within 60 days of their auto-enrollment date can return to Pioneer any time. Once the 60 day grace period has ended, all opted-out customers must continue as PG&E customers for a minimum of 12 months from their opt-out date before they are eligible to return to Pioneer.

To better understand when you are eligible to return to Pioneer and start seeing all the many benefits, simply call the Pioneer Community Energy offices at (916) 758-8969.

Customers who opt out of Pioneer Community Energy as their electric energy provider within 60 days of their auto-enrollment date can return to Pioneer any time. Once the 60 day grace period has ended, all opted-out customers must continue as PG&E customers for a minimum of 12 months from their opt-out date before they are eligible to return to Pioneer. Visit our Enrollment page for more information.

Stable and Competitive Rates

Pioneer’s number one priority is offering competitive and stable generation rates for your electricity, and we are delivering.

In addition to saving our customers $21.8 million between Feb. 2018 and Nov. 2021,  Pioneer was recently recognized by Find Energy as the 2020 “Energy Provider of the Year,” for having the lowest residential generation rates in California. Money not given to shareholders or profits claimed by the organization

Pioneer’s Board of Directors voted to set rates, effective March 2022, at a discount to PG&Es generation rate. This discount is measured after adding the appropriate PCIA exit fee charged by PG&E to Pioneer’s Generation Rate.

PG&E’s rates fluctuate annually and can be found in the chart below compared to Pioneer’s efforts to maintain stable rates.

Pioneer Customers Total Estimated Savings | Feb. 2018–Dec. 2023

$85 Million

Residential Customers Total Savings

$51.6 Million

Commercial Customers Total Savings

$26.9 Million

Industrial Customers Total Savings

$4.9 Million

Other Customers Total Savings

$1.1 Million

What is the difference between Pioneer Community Energy and PG&E?

Independence distinguishes Pioneer from investor-owned Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). We are members of your community, a local team with families that live, work and play nearby. Our values include investments in local businesses, grid resiliency and community well-being — not corporate payouts. Pioneer procures a different mix of energy resources than that offered by PG&E. PG&E manages transmission, distribution and delivery of a Pioneer customer’s electricity, including providing meter reading, billing, maintenance and outage response services. PG&E may also provide some customer service and maintenance services.

PG&E owns the poles and wires. They manage transmission, distribution and delivery of Pioneer customers’ electricity, including providing meter reading, billing, maintenance and outage response services. PG&E may also provide some customer service and maintenance services.

Selective focus view of liquid amber leaves framing the historic courthouse of Auburn, California, USA.
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