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.

Pioneer Community Energy Leads the State in Local and Diverse Investments

Sunrise With Fall Foliage

ROCKLIN, CA — The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has recognized Pioneer Community Energy as a leader in diversity investment through its work with business enterprises owned by women, minorities, disabled veterans and LGBT entrepreneurs. Pioneer Community Energy, a not-for-profit, community-owned local provider of electricity, serves 150,000 residential and commercial customers in unincorporated Placer County and El Dorado County and the incorporated areas of Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Placerville, Rocklin and Loomis. 

A recent report issued by the CPUC ranks Pioneer Community Energy as second among 15 Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) in 2021 for the most diverse spending in its non-power procurement efforts.

“Pioneer Community Energy is honored to be recognized by the CPUC for our efforts to invest heavily in our local and diverse economy,” said Alice Dowdin Calvillo, Chairperson of the Pioneer Board of Directors and Mayor for the City of Auburn. “We remain steadfast in supporting our regional economy and local businesses. In 2021, nearly 50 percent of Pioneer’s power and non-power suppliers were either locally or regionally sourced, and California companies made up 70 percent of Pioneer’s suppliers.”

As part of its dedication to boosting the regional economy and championing local businesses, Pioneer has also established contractual relationships with three local and regional suppliers for power procurement.

“In 2021, Pioneer spent nearly $4.3 million on power sourced from the Placer County Water Agency’s hydroelectric facilities,” said Donald Eckert Jr., Pioneer’s Executive Director. “We also spent $436,000 for hydropower sourced from the El Dorado Irrigation District and $82,000 on biomass Renewable Energy Credits from Sierra Pacific Industries. We look forward to increasing our supplier diversity while meeting mandates to procure as much as possible from local and California businesses.”

Pioneer remains committed to developing and enhancing its supplier diversity program, procedures and processes. “We value the trust that we’ve earned in our community, and maintaining transparency is part of keeping that trust — and a top priority for Pioneer,” said Board Chairperson Dowdin Calvillo. “Sharing information about our business practices helps our customers understand how we are working to serve the community’s best interests and that we offer smarter choices for energy options.”

One of 25 CCAs in California, Pioneer works cooperatively with the region’s existing investor-owned utility, PG&E, which provides infrastructure and delivers the power purchased by Pioneer. Through community choice aggregation, communities can pool their electricity load in order to purchase energy and develop local projects and programs on behalf of their residents and businesses. 

Pioneer powers the communities it serves with competitive rates, reliable service and a choice in energy options.

Original Release

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