POUR PUBLICATION IMMÉDIATE
March 13, 2023
Contact presse MCE :
Jenna Tenney, responsable de la communication et de l'engagement communautaire
(925) 378-6747 | communications@mceCleanEnergy.org
SAN RAFAEL et 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.
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À propos de MCE : MCE est une agence publique à but non lucratif et le fournisseur d'électricité privilégié de plus de 580 000 comptes clients et de 1,5 million de résidents et d'entreprises dans les comtés de Contra Costa, Marin, Napa et Solano. Établissant la norme en matière d'énergie propre en Californie depuis 2010, MCE est leader avec 100% d'énergie renouvelable à des tarifs stables, fournissant une charge de pointe de 1200 MW, réduisant de manière significative les émissions de gaz à effet de serre et réinvestissant des millions dans des programmes locaux. Pour plus d'informations sur MCE, visitez le site mceCleanEnergy.orgou suivez-nous sur votre plateforme sociale préférée @mceCleanEnergy.
