FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2023
MCE Press Contact:
Jenna Tenney, Manager of Communications and Community Engagement
(925) 378-6747 | communications@mceCleanEnergy.org
SAN RAFAEL and CONCORD, Calif. — California’s community energy providers aren’t just fighting climate change, they’re fighting for economic equity. Rising energy costs place a disproportionate burden on members of traditionally disadvantaged communities and MCE is working to create economic equity for struggling communities already impacted by inflation.
Bay Area residents in Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano counties have now received almost $19 million in COVID energy bill relief from MCE and other state programs, which have combined to completely eliminate almost two years’ worth of bill debt between March 2020 and December 2021.
“We know COVID has had lasting impacts on Bay Area residents and MCE has worked hard to provide as much relief to our customers as possible,” said K. Patrice Williams, MCE Board Director and City of Fairfield Councilmember. “Our MCE Cares program offered $5 million in bill credits to low-income residents and small businesses, and we choose not to raise rates in 2021, resulting in $90 million in bill savings compared to PG&E.”
Across the country households accumulated more than $32 billion in arrearages during the first year of the pandemic. Providing utility bill debt relief can help people avoid a negative cycle of economic hardship that may be a struggle to break free from.
These bill relief programs include:
- $11 million through the California Arrearage Payment Program,
- $5 million through the MCE Cares Credit, and
- $3.5 million through the California Public Utilities Commission’s Arrearage Management Program.
For residents still struggling with energy debt and higher bills, there are programs that can help. Visit mceCleanEnergy.org/lowerbill.
###
About MCE: MCE is a not-for-profit public agency and the preferred electricity provider for more than 580,000 customer accounts and 1.5 million residents and businesses across Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano counties. Setting the standard for clean energy in California since 2010, MCE leads with 100% renewable power at stable rates, delivering a 1200 MW peak load and significantly reducing greenhouse emissions and reinvesting millions in local programs. For more information about MCE, visit mceCleanEnergy.org, or follow us on your preferred social platform @mceCleanEnergy.
Download Press Release (pdf)
