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.

TOUA Customers Receive Notice of Rate Plan Change: Pioneer Reminds Customers That They Have a Choice

Dishwasher Loading

Pioneer Community Energy (Pioneer) customers on the time-of-use rate plan TOUA began receiving notices from PG&E in August advising that they would be moved automatically to the TOUC3 rate plan in October 2020.

Time-of-use rate plans have time periods like 4 pm to 9 pm or 5 pm to 8 pm where electricity costs more than other times of day. Customers exercise control over their electricity costs by shifting when they use power to time periods when electricity costs less.

Because PG&E is closing the TOUA rate plan, all customers, including Pioneer customers, on TOUA must be moved to the default rate plan TOUC3 unless customers choose otherwise.

Pioneer reminds customers that they can evaluate and choose their rate plans, using a rate analysis tool. The rate analysis tool takes a customer’s actual usage and evaluates it under the different rate plans. It then provides the customer with a rate plan recommendation.

Customers then advise PG&E of their choice. Once the change is made, Pioneer is updated by PG&E, so customers only have one notification to make. The new rate plan usually takes effect on the next billing cycle.

More News from Pioneer

More News from Pioneer

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