Campaign to help customers access new and existing programs to reduce bills and greenhouse gas emissions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 7, 2021

MCE Press Contact:

Jenna Tenney, Marketing & Communications Manager

(925) 378-6747 | jtenney@mcecleanenergy.org

SAN RAFAEL and CONCORD, Calif. — MCE is excited to announce the rollout of our newest campaign, MCE Cares. This campaign amplifies MCE’s focus on energy equity by helping customers access new and existing innovative energy programs and services that reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. By reinvesting in communities across four Bay Area counties and connecting customers to energy saving programs, MCE is empowering and galvanizing communities and individuals to act against climate change.

The MCE Cares Campaign seeks to deepen engagement, participation, and awareness for multicultural, millennial, and Gen Z customers, which now represent more than half of MCE’s customers. These customer segments are environmental activism champions, influencing fundamental shifts in today’s culture. MCE’s campaign is founded on the guiding values and core principles of climate action, clean energy, energy innovation, community power, and climate justice. These core principles are driven by MCE’s goal to promote access to innovative clean energy technologies that benefit both our planet and our communities.

“The impacts of climate change hit our most vulnerable communities the hardest,” said John Gioia, Contra Costa County Supervisor, Bay Area Air Quality Management District Boardmember, and MCE Board Director. “Hard hit communities in Contra Costa, including North Richmond and Baypoint, are fighting for climate health and justice. The MCE Cares campaign empowers climate action and offers vital resources to help those most impacted by pollution and climate change.”

Focusing on these core values, MCE Cares strives to advance energy technologies such as electric vehicles, energy storage, and energy savings for homes and businesses. Working with communities to promote energy equity through our programs and services, MCE wants to create an equitable climate future for everyone and reduce the negative impact that fossil fuels have had on historically impacted communities.

As part of the MCE Cares Campaign, MCE’s Board of Directors approved $10 million to be used for cost relief to customers. The MCE Cares bill credit program can be combined with other programs to maximize savings, including the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) discount programs. Additionally, those who owe $500 or more in late payments may qualify for the Arrearage Management Plan (AMP) which forgives up to $8,000 a year. Learn more about the CARE, FERA, and additional payment assistance programs at www.mceCleanEnergy.org/lowerbill.

“The MCE Cares Campaign is an exciting opportunity for MCE to deepen connections with our customers,” said Dawn Weisz, MCE CEO. “We know that customers need access to resources, and we’re excited to reach these customers through this campaign focused on equitable climate action. Our clean energy and innovation programs can help customers save money and improve their quality of life. That’s the value of community power.”

MCE Cares is an extension of MCE’s larger goal to provide innovative solutions that invest back into our communities. This program is part of MCE’s ongoing COVID relief efforts, which include suspension of collections; direct outreach to customers to encourage enrollment in existing discount and utility bill assistance programs; early participation in the Arrearage Management Program in partnership with PG&E; an education and awareness program to spread the word about community resources and financial assistance programs for residential and small business customers; free EV charging at MCE’s San Rafael office; and distribution of 100 portable back-up batteries to medically vulnerable customers prior to the 2020 Public Safety Power Shutoff season.

###

About MCE: As California’s first Community Choice Aggregation Program, MCE is a groundbreaking, not-for-profit, public agency that has been setting the standard for energy innovation in our communities since 2010. MCE offers cleaner power at stable rates, significantly reducing energy-related greenhouse emissions and enabling millions of dollars of reinvestment in local energy programs. MCE is a load-serving entity supporting a 1,200 MW peak load. MCE provides electricity service to more than 540,000 customer accounts and more than one million residents and businesses in 36 member communities across four Bay Area counties: Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano. For more information about MCE, visit mceCleanEnergy.org, or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Download Press Release (pdf)