(From Press Release)– The Valley Clean Energy Alliance (VCEA) Board of Directors unanimously adopted a resolution to approve its Implementation Plan and Statement of Intent (Plan) and authorize its submission to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for certification. The CPUC has 90 days to complete its review and certify the Plan.
“Delivering the Implementation Plan to CPUC is an essential step and important milestone for VCEA,” says Lucas Frerichs, City of Davis Councilmember and VCEA Vice-Chair. “We are that much closer to achieving our goal of delivering competitive rates, cleaner energy, and better electricity options for the local communities that will be served by VCEA.”
The Plan is a legal requirement of all Community Choice Energy (CCE) programs. By adopting the draft Implementation Plan, the VCEA Board is establishing the initial design of the program. Consistent with other operational CCEs across California, the plan maintains flexibility to accommodate shifts in wholesale energy markets, the legislative and regulatory landscape, and other factors that may impact operations over time.
Simultaneously, the VCEA Board unanimously approved its contract with SMUD for program launch and operations.
“The partnership between VCEA and SMUD is a testament to a movement that supports local decision making, affordable energy costs, and greenhouse gas reduction. All at a not-for-profit level,” says Angel Barajas, Mayor of the City of Woodland and VCEA Board Member.
The approved Master Services Agreement is a contract for the services required by VCEA to launch the program and begin serving customers in June of 2018. VCEA staff, legal counsel, and consultants negotiated with SMUD’s executive and legal team to finalize the approved Agreement and first two Task Orders that address technical energy services, data management and the establishment of a call center to provide customer support. Additional Task Orders addressing wholesale energy services and operational services will be brought to the Board for consideration in November.
SMUD is the nation’s sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, serving approx. 1.5 million people across 900 square miles. SMUD has been providing low-cost, reliable electricity for more than 70 years to Sacramento County and small adjoining portions of Placer and Yolo Counties.
