“Supervisors Resume Consideration of Joining Pioneer Community Energy” November 13, 2024.
The Board of Supervisors is once again considering partnering with Pioneer Community Energy to procure electricity for residents and businesses of the unincorporated county. If the relationship is approved, Pioneer would start procuring power in October 2027.
Last year, the Board tabled discussions of a partnership because of a spike in renewable energy prices that could have led to higher rates for residents. But on Tuesday, supervisors indicated interest in reactivating discussions after listening to the results of an impact assessment study showing the situation is now more economically favorable.
Pioneer Community Energy is a Community Choice Aggregation provider, which procures power for its customers in place of the local investor-owned utility, Pacific Gas & Electric. In Tuesday’s meeting Pioneer Chief Executive Officer Don Eckhert explained: “We’re not replacing PG&E, we’re offering citizens a choice.”
The not-for-profit agency has been serving Grass Valley and Nevada City since January and serves numerous jurisdictions in the area including Placer and El Dorado counties, Auburn and Colfax. In addition to Nevada County, nine other jurisdictions are considering joining Pioneer, including Butte County and Yuba City.
Pioneer manages the generation portion of customers’ electricity service while PG&E continues to deliver the power through its poles and lines.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to formally vote on whether to pursue a partnership with Pioneer in early 2025. Pioneer would then seek approval for the deal from the California Public Utility Commission in spring 2025.
