Fact Sheet: Community Choice Aggregation

www.TheSolarFoundation.org January 17, 2013
A COMMUNITY authorizes its municipal government to procure
electric supply services on its behalf.
The municipality then makes its CHOICE of electric providers,
based on the rates it is able to negotiate with these suppliers
and how the electricity is generated.
Cost savings are achieved through the AGGREGATION of
customer demand, allowing the municipality to negotiate bulk
purchasing rates.
Community Choice Aggregation
What is Community Choice Aggregation?
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs are bulk electricity purchasing arrangements through which municipalities
are empowered to negotiate electric supply rates with power providers on behalf of the residents and business owners
within their jurisdiction. CCA is a variation on electricity deregulation offered in states that have authorized retail choice,
allowing for separation between the generation and transmission and distribution services electricity consumers receive.
Under a CCA, communities choose between generators based on cost of service and other factors, but receive this electricity
through their existing electric distribution utility. In order for a
community to engage in CCA, authorizing legislation must first
be passed at the state level. Though the opportunity hasn’t
been leveraged or fully utilized in every case, CCAs provide
consumers a chance to make a switch to renewable electricity
while realizing significant savings on the generation portion of
their electric bill. Once CCAs have been authorized, municipal
or county governments within that state must approve their
own programs – typically through a local referendum, council
vote, or local ordinance.1
Where is CCA an Option?
As of early 2013, six states have adopted legislation allowing for municipalities within their borders to start a CCA program.
Of these, five states have programs that include an option for, or provide by default, electricity generated from renewable
sources. Other states (such as Pennsylvania) have pursued CCA legislation that was ultimately rejected, and communities in
Utah, New York, and Colorado are currently investigating the suitability of CCA for consumers within their jurisdictions.2
What are the Benefits of CCA?
Potential for Lower Rates and Price Stability
The primary benefit of CCAs implemented thus far is the
reduction in electric supply rates achieved by aggregating local
consumer demand into a single large load. By negotiating
lower supply rates or a fixed percentage discount over non-
CCA generation rates, many municipalities have been able to
deliver significant cost savings to local consumers. The village
of Campton Hills, IL was able to negotiate rates of between
$0.044 - $0.048 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for its customers,
representing between 37% and 50% off the rates offered by
the investor-owned utility (IOU) in the area.3
The city of
Cincinnati, OH took another path to securing savings for its
citizens, obtaining not a fixed CCA rate, but a fixed discount (of
Community Choice Aggregation: Legislation and Programs by State

The Solar Foundation
505 9th
Street NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20004 (202) 469-3750 www.TheSolarFoundation.org
 The Local Energy Aggregation Network (www.leanenergyus.org) is a non-profit organization focused on promoting the
development of new CCAs across the United States. The “Resources” page of this website connects readers to sample program
plans, ordinances, requests for proposals and information, guides, and state legislation. Though somewhat dated, LEAN’s
National CCA Program Matrix displays CCA program information by state in a single, useful chart.
 The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources has produced a Guide to Municipal Electric Aggregation in Massachusetts
(http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/doer/electric-deregulation/agg-guid.pdf), exploring the benefits of CCA and methods for
implementation under the state CCA law.
 The California Energy Commission sponsored the development of the Community Choice Aggregation Pilot Project Guidebook,
available at : http://www.energy.ca.gov/2009publications/CEC-500-2009-003/CEC-500-2009-003.PDF
23%) on rates offered by the utility. Under this system, the CCA rate will change with the rate offered by the IOU, but with
the new rates guaranteed to be 23% lower.4
Renewable Sources
Though renewable energy is not a mandatory element of a CCA program, many communities have used aggregation as a
mechanism to promote cleaner sources of electric generation. Incorporating green energy into a CCA does not necessarily
mean that the electricity delivered to customers is derived from renewable sources; oftentimes, the electric service provider
for the CCA obtains electricity from conventional power plants, but purchases a number of renewable energy credits (RECs)
equivalent to the amount of electricity delivered to customers through the program. Including renewable energy sometimes
comes at the expense of the cost savings achieved through CCAs. For example, two California programs (in Marin County5
and San Francisco6
), along with the Cape Light Compact Green7
program in Massachusetts, offer renewable energy to
consumers, but at a cost premium. However, many programs in other states have been able to offer renewable energy
without sacrificing lower costs:
 Cincinnati, OH provides program participants with 100% renewable energy while offering a 23% discount. The city
relies on RECs produced from the University of Cincinnati’s Central Utility Plant and from the solar canopy installed
at the Cincinnati Zoo, along with other credits purchased by the electric service provider, to make this electricity
“green”.8
 Evanston, IL offers 100% REC-supported renewable energy at rates 38% lower than those offered by the IOU.9
 Campton Hills, IL uses RECs to offer between 50% and 100% renewable energy at significantly lower rates, saving
customers up to 50% on the electric supply portion of their bills.
 Oak Park, IL relies on wind RECs to provide 100% renewable electricity for $0.0579/kWh (versus $0.08324/kWh
from the IOU).10
 Plumsted Township, NJ, the state’s first program since CCAs were authorized in the state in 2003, provides 10%
renewable energy while saving program participants 14% off the IOU’s generation rate – savings that equate to
$165 per year for each customer.11
Ease of Enrollment
Once legislation is approved on the state level, it is up to communities to decide to start a program through a local
referendum, ordinance, or council meeting. In order to ensure there is enough demand to produce the desired cost
reductions, most CCAs are structured as “opt-out” programs, in which all citizens within a jurisdiction are automatically
enrolled in the program unless they indicate otherwise by a set date. This allows communities to avoid the arduous task of
enrolling customers for the program.
Learn More

The Solar Foundation
505 9th
Street NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20004 (202) 469-3750 www.TheSolarFoundation.org
This fact sheet, produced by The Solar Foundation, is supported by the following team of organizations: ICLEI-USA; International City/County Management Association (ICMA); Interstate Renewable
Energy Council, Inc. (IREC); North Carolina Solar Center (NCSC); Meister Consultants Group, Inc. (MCG); American Planning Association (APA); and National Association of Regional Councils
(NARC).This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Award Number DE-EE0003525.This fact sheet was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an
agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal
liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe on privately owned
rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement,
recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United
States Government or any agency thereof.
1
www.leanenergyus.org/wp-content/uploads/PDFs/State/CCA%20State_by_State_RightSidebar/CCA_State_by_State_MATRIX%2012-1-11.pdf
2
www.leanenergyus.org/cca-by-state/other-states/
3
https://camptonhillselectricityaggregation.com/(S(cewtiglujmrgtlg5nzdo2emg))/pricing.aspx
4
http://city-egov.cincinnati-oh.gov/Webtop/ws/fyi/public/fyi_docs/Blob/2891.pdf?rpp=-10&m=1&w=doc_no='2452'
5
https://marincleanenergy.info/rates
6
http://cleanpowersf.org/rates-programs/
7
www.capelightcompact.org/power-supply/cape-light-compact-green/
8
www.leanenergyus.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/FES-contract-final-signed.pdf
9
www.cityofevanston.org/sustainability/community-choice-aggregation/
10
www.integrysenergy.com/aggregation/il-oakpark/OakPark-Terms.pdf
11
http://njccea.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PMUA-Press-Release-October-12-2012-Energy-FINAL.pdf

Fact Sheet: Community Choice Aggregation

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked (20)

Similar to Fact Sheet: Community Choice Aggregation (20)

More from The Solar Foundation (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

Fact Sheet: Community Choice Aggregation