SLO County and City of Atascadero celebrate alliance with 3CE
ATASCADERO, Calif. – A new power option for customers and providers in San Luis Obispo County generated buzz in Atascadero on Tuesday.
Central Coast Community Energy, or 3CE, is a governmental agency that sources competitively priced electricity from renewable and clean energy resources.
“We're the last city in San Luis Obispo County to join 3CE. We've made this choice as the City Council on behalf of our community,” said Atascadero Mayor Charles Bourbeau.
Pacific Gas and Electric will continue to provide infrastructure and deliver power services already in place.
“PG&E is really very much our partner. We need them in order to supply this service, and we work together in that way,” said Catherine Stedman, chief communications officer for Central Coast Community Energy.
The agency aims to give locals more influence over where their energy comes from and how rates are set.
“If you think about it, unless you happen to be a shareholder, you have no representation with PG&E, and you have no representation on the Public Utilities Commission,” Bourbeau said.
Residents in Atascadero and unincorporated San Luis Obispo County will have the option to remain with PG&E, but they must opt out of automatic enrollment in the 3CE program.
“The difference with Central Coast Community Energy is that we are not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission. It's our local elected officials and appointed officials on our operations board who make the decisions that affect our communities,” Stedman said.
A community reception was held Tuesday at Atascadero City Hall to mark the new collaboration.
Locals are eager to see what the change will mean for the region’s energy future.
“I know that everyone wants the future to be green, but how much is that going to come at the expense of power costs, bills, and rates for everybody? That is still to be determined, and it will be interesting to see how they handle that,” said Colton Hobbes, an Atascadero resident.
