Starting in April, MCE will become the primary electricity provider for Hercules homes and businesses.
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MCE’s electric generation service and rates will replace PG&E’s; MCE is not an additional charge. PG&E will continue to send one monthly bill. Instead of one electricity fee that combines delivery and generation charges, the bill will show separate lines — one for PG&E’s delivery and one for MCE’s generation, which replaces what PG&E would otherwise charge.
With MCE, you now have three choices for your energy service: MCE Light Green, MCE Deep Green, and PG&E. Your energy service will switch to Light Green in April unless you choose another option.
Customers enrolled in discount programs such as CARE, FERA, Medical Baseline, or PG&E Employee Discount automatically receive the same discount with MCE. No action is needed.
Amounts shown are based on a typical residential customer using 315 kWh per month on the Time-of-Use rate, E-TOU-C. Actual costs will vary depending on usage and rate.
Rates effective January 1, 2026.
Amounts shown are based on a typical small commercial customer using 1,202 kWh per month on the B1 rate. Actual costs will vary depending on usage and rate.
Rates effective January 1, 2026.
To provide relief for the rising state-mandated charges outside MCE’s control, MCE is providing our customers with a 14% reduction in their electricity generation rates and a temporary bill credit through 2026, effective April 1, 2026. We are also extending our MCE Cares Credit bill relief program. Learn more.
To choose Deep Green or PG&E, click the button above or contact us at info@mceCleanEnergy.org or (888) 632-3674 Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm. Please have your account number available.
MCE’s Net Energy Metering (NEM) program offers credits for the excess energy you generate. To maximize your solar benefits and avoid an off-cycle annual true-up bill from PG&E, your account will be automatically enrolled in MCE electric generation service at the time of your upcoming true-up date; there is no need to apply. So you will be able to take full advantage of any credits you may have accrued.
Benefits for MCE Net Energy Metering customers:
PG&E will continue to charge you for all electric delivery (i.e., non-generation) services, including “Minimum Bill Charges” and gas charges on your monthly statements. Other electric delivery charges (such as transmission, public purpose programs, conservation incentive adjustment) will be billed annually via PG&E’s annual true-up process for Net Energy Metering customers and monthly for Solar Billing Plan customers. MCE generation charges and any credits earned for excess generation will be applied on your monthly bill.
No, our solar programs work the same for customers who lease their panels as for customers who own them. The individual listed on the interconnection agreement will receive the credits.
No, being an MCE customer does not change your NEM status or rate. Your NEM eligibility is based on the date that your solar system received permission to operate. That date starts the 20 year time clock for either NEM 1 or NEM 2 and does not switch to Solar Billing Plan (SBP) until that time period has lapsed. That original date also carries over to future ownership as well.
MCE’s Solar Billing Plan offers credits for the excess energy you generate. To maximize your solar benefits, your account will be automatically enrolled in MCE electric generation service at the time of your upcoming true-up date; there is no need to apply. So you will be able to take full advantage of any credits you may have accrued.
Benefits for MCE Solar Billing Plan customers:
PG&E will continue to charge you for all electric delivery (i.e., non-generation) services, including “Minimum Bill Charges” and gas charges on your monthly statements. Other electric delivery charges (such as transmission, public purpose programs, conservation incentive adjustment) will be billed annually via PG&E’s annual true-up process for Net Energy Metering customers and monthly for Solar Billing Plan customers. MCE generation charges and any credits earned for excess generation will be applied on your monthly bill.
Discounts like CARE (California Alternative Rates for Energy), FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance), and Medical Baseline Allowance will continue with MCE service. There is no need to reapply.
Budget Billing is applied to PG&E’s gas and electric delivery charges but not MCE’s electric generation charges. As a result, your total charges will vary from month to month with MCE.
MCE customers are not eligible to participate in this program. SmartRate is voluntary and you can cancel at any time. If you prefer to keep your SmartRate plan, you will need to opt out of MCE. Please have your PG&E account number.
MCE provides energy for nearly 600,000 homes and businesses across Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano Counties. For over a decade, we have provided a choice of electricity providers, more renewable energy, and community reinvestment through energy-saving programs, local projects, and workforce opportunities. Learn about the impact we’re making.
PG&E will continue to send your monthly energy bill. Instead of one electricity fee that combines delivery and generation charges, the bill will show separate lines – one for PG&E’s delivery and one for MCE’s generation, which replaces what PG&E would otherwise charge. MCE’s generation rates simply replace PG&E’s; they are not an additional charge.
To ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to receive the benefits provided by Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs such as MCE, state law requires all electricity customers to be serviced by MCE unless you opt out.
No, MCE will not need to install anything nor will we make any changes to your PG&E meter. MCE will simply meet your energy needs from more renewable sources. MCE’s generation services will replace PG&E’s generation services.
Opt-Out Fees
You may request to opt out of MCE service beginning in February. If you request to opt out after 60 days of service with MCE (i.e., 60 days after your April billing cycle), a one-time administrative fee of $5 per residential account or $25 per commercial account will be applied. You will also be subject to PG&E’s terms and conditions of service, which prohibit you from returning to MCE for one year.
Returning to MCE after Opting Out
If you opt out before MCE service starts in April or within the first 60 days of service, you may return to MCE at any time. If you opt out after the first 60 days of MCE service, you will be prohibited by PG&E from returning to MCE for one year, even if we cost less.
You may opt out by phone at (888) 632-3674 or online. Please have your PG&E bill or your PG&E account number and billing address on hand so we may process your request.
You can opt up to Deep Green 100% renewable energy at any time online, or by contacting us at info@mceCleanEnergy.org or (888) 632-3674. Please have your PG&E bill or your PG&E account number and billing address on hand so we may process your request.
The Hercules City Council voted to join MCE in 2023, enabling electricity customers in Hercules to begin MCE service on their April 2025 billing cycle. Solar customers (Net Energy Metering and Solar Billing Plan) will begin MCE service on their next true-up date.
You will receive four notices about your MCE enrollment – two before your generation service switches from PG&E to MCE and two after. The first will arrive as a letter approximately two months before your April billing cycle. If you have an email address on file with PG&E, you will receive your second, third, and fourth notices via email, otherwise you will receive all notices via USPS mail.
Notices will be linked below after they have been sent.
Yes, since MCE customers receive their electricity through PG&E’s power lines, outages also affect MCE customers.
Explore these resources from community enrollment workshops to learn more about MCE and your electricity options.
Presentation Slides
Meeting Recordings
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