Los Altos Residents and Businesses Receive Carbon-Free Electricity at Competitive Rates from Silicon Valley Clean Energy

Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) is a community-owned agency that provides carbon-free electricity to residential and commercial customers for a majority of Santa Clara County communities, including the City of Los Altos. As a public agency, net revenues are returned to the community to keep rates competitive and provide clean energy programs.

SVCE is a Community Choice Energy agency and works in partnership with PG&E. SVCE buys clean electricity direct from the source—encouraging the kind of market growth and competition that results in more renewable energy sources and lower energy generation rates. PG&E delivers electricity over existing power lines, and continues to maintain the lines and provide customer service as they always have. Your bill continues to come from PG&E, with SVCE generation charges replacing those from PG&E. Visit the SVCE website for more information on rates, energy choices, understanding your bill and FAQs at SVCleanEnergy.org.

History

In February 2016, the City became a member of SVCE with the goal of establishing a Community Choice Energy partnership to provide cleaner energy to residential and commercial users in Los Altos. Mayor Jeannie Bruins was appointed as a Director on the SVCE Board. At its meeting on July 13, 2016, the SVCE Board of Directors unanimously voted to authorize procurement of an energy mix that will supply users with carbon-free electricity. This is a notable decision because providing utility users within the SVCE service area with power generated from carbon-free sources, lowers the amount of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from energy usage and more quickly achieves the reduction goals stated in local Climate Action Plans and state climate initiatives.

SVCE serves the communities of Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Saratoga, Sunnyvale and unincorporated Santa Clara County. SVCE is governed by a board of directors comprised of one elected representative from each of its participating communities.