Did your PG&E bill suddenly mention Ava Community Energy or Renewable 100? If you live in Alameda County or are shopping in Fremont or Alameda, you may be enrolled in a community choice program that changes only part of your bill. You want to know what it means for your monthly costs and how to compare homes fairly. In this guide, you’ll learn how Ava appears on your PG&E bill, the difference between Bright Choice and Renewable 100, how to budget for each, and what to consider if you have solar or an EV. Let’s dive in.
How CCA billing works
Community choice aggregators like Ava Community Energy buy electricity on your behalf, while PG&E still delivers power, maintains the grid, reads your meter, and sends the bill. That is why your PG&E bill can show both Ava and PG&E charges. The total you pay includes generation from Ava plus PG&E delivery and required state charges.
If you change Ava products, you change only the generation line on the bill. PG&E delivery and certain non-bypassable charges remain the same regardless of your Ava choice. The exact bill layout can vary by billing cycle, so always review the generation section closely.
Where to look on your bill
- Generation charges. This line lists your electricity provider, such as Ava Community Energy, the specific product (Bright Choice or Renewable 100), the rate, and your kWh for the period.
- Delivery charges. PG&E’s distribution, transmission, and service charges that apply no matter which generation provider you choose.
- Non-bypassable charges. Items like PCIA and other state-mandated fees that appear separately and affect your total cost.
- Account summary. Shows total due and the breakdown of generation, delivery, and other fees. The bill glossary explains which charges are Ava’s and which are PG&E’s.
What changes when you switch products
If you opt into Renewable 100, the bill will still come from PG&E and still list Ava as your generation provider. The product name on the generation line will change and the per-kWh generation rate will typically be higher than Bright Choice. Delivery and state charges do not change when you switch products.
Quick verification steps
- Open your most recent PG&E bill and find the generation provider name and product.
- Note your kWh used, generation rate, delivery charges, and any PCIA or other non-bypassable charges.
- If you are comparing homes, request 12 months of bills to see seasonal usage and total costs under the current product.
Bright Choice vs Renewable 100
Bright Choice is usually the standard product, designed to be cost-competitive while including a meaningful share of renewable energy. Renewable 100 is the opt-up choice that matches 100% of your annual usage with renewable energy attributes and generally costs more per kWh.
Renewable coverage and emissions
Renewable 100 is marketed to cover 100% of your annual consumption with renewable attributes or bundled renewable contracts. Bright Choice has a lower renewable share that can change over time. Both products reduce emissions compared with typical fossil-heavy mixes, but only Renewable 100 targets full renewable matching on an annual basis.
What changes on your bill
Under Bright Choice, your bill’s generation line will show Ava with the default product rate. If you opt up to Renewable 100, the generation line will still show Ava but with the Renewable 100 identifier and a higher per-kWh rate, which increases the generation subtotal for the same usage. Everything else on the bill stays the same.
What not to assume
Do not assume a fixed premium or a fixed renewable percentage for Bright Choice. Rates and product mixes change with market conditions and procurement. Always check the current Ava rate sheet and product descriptions before budgeting.
Budgeting and operating expenses
To compare products or properties, break your cost into parts. Generation is the only piece that changes when you switch between Bright Choice and Renewable 100. Delivery, fixed charges, and non-bypassable charges will remain the same.
A simple budgeting framework
- Generation cost = kWh used × generation rate for the product you choose.
- Delivery and fixed charges = PG&E distribution, transmission, meter, and service fees.
- Non-bypassable charges = PCIA and other state-mandated surcharges.
- Taxes and fees = Local taxes and any miscellaneous items.
Add these components for each month to get the annual total. If you are a buyer, use 12 months of the seller’s actual bills whenever possible.
Step-by-step comparison
- Gather 12 months of kWh usage from the property’s PG&E bills.
- Look up current generation rates for Bright Choice and Renewable 100 from Ava.
- Multiply annual kWh by each product’s generation rate to get annual generation cost for each option.
- Add the same delivery and non-bypassable totals to both to get an apples-to-apples annual total.
- The difference between totals is the annual premium for Renewable 100. Divide by 12 for a monthly estimate.
Things that move the number
- Usage level. Higher usage means a larger dollar premium for Renewable 100 because the difference is applied per kWh.
- TOU structure. Time-of-use schedules can interact with product rates. Confirm whether your generation rate is flat or TOU-aligned.
- Seasonal swings. Summer cooling or winter heating can push kWh higher, magnifying any per-kWh difference.
- Electrification choices. Adding an EV charger or heat pump increases kWh and the Renewable 100 premium in dollars.
- Solar. Rooftop solar changes the net kWh charged under your chosen product. See the solar section below.
Fremont default and your choices
In some communities, the default product may be set to Renewable 100. If that applies in Fremont during your enrollment, your PG&E bill will show Ava’s Renewable 100 as the generation product. You can usually opt down to Bright Choice or opt out to PG&E generation if you prefer a different mix or cost profile.
Switching options and timing
- Opt up to Renewable 100. You can typically enroll online or by phone with Ava. Changes often take effect on the next billing cycle.
- Opt down to Bright Choice. If your account is defaulted to Renewable 100, you can request Bright Choice if allowed under current rules.
- Opt out to PG&E generation. You can return to PG&E for generation. This may take one or more billing cycles.
- Confirm details. Check for any fees, notice periods, or minimum terms before switching. Policies can change.
Solar and EV considerations
If you have rooftop solar
Net energy metering customers still receive PG&E NEM credits and have billing calculated by the utility. If you are with Ava, your imported kWh are billed under your chosen product’s generation rate. Exported energy credits follow PG&E’s NEM rules. Ask for solar production reports and 12 months of post-solar bills to see actual out-of-pocket costs.
If you drive an EV or use heat pumps
EV charging and heat pumps increase kWh usage, which increases the dollar impact of any per-kWh premium for Renewable 100. Off-peak charging strategies under TOU rates can lower total costs. When budgeting for a move or a new appliance, include the expected additional kWh in your comparison.
What Alameda County buyers should do
If you are comparing homes in Alameda, Fremont, or nearby cities, use actual bills to ground your numbers. Present both the current costs and a modeled scenario under the alternative product so you can see the true premium or savings.
If you are evaluating a listing
- Request 12 months of PG&E bills from the seller.
- Confirm the current Ava product listed on the generation line.
- Model the total annual cost under both Bright Choice and Renewable 100 using today’s rates.
- Label your assumptions, including expected EV charging or electrification plans.
If you already own
- Open your latest bill and confirm your product.
- Decide whether Renewable 100’s renewable coverage aligns with your budget and priorities.
- If cost is a major factor, compute the annual premium and compare it to investments in efficiency, like insulation or smart thermostats.
- Recheck Ava’s rates before making a switch, since premiums can change.
Choosing the right product is about clarity. Focus on the generation line, confirm your rates, run the math with your own kWh, and decide what best fits your household and goals. If you need a second set of eyes while you plan a move or compare homes, I am here to help.
Ready to talk through bills, budgets, and neighborhood trade-offs before you buy or sell? Schedule a consultation with Unknown Company and get tailored guidance for your next step.
FAQs
How Ava shows on a PG&E bill
- Your PG&E bill will list Ava Community Energy on the generation line, along with the product name and per-kWh rate.
What changes if I switch to Renewable 100
- Only the generation portion changes, usually to a higher per-kWh rate. PG&E delivery and non-bypassable charges stay the same.
Whether the default can be Renewable 100 in Fremont
- Some communities set Renewable 100 as the default. If that applies in Fremont during your enrollment, you can typically opt down to Bright Choice or opt out.
How to compare products for a specific home
- Use 12 months of kWh from the property’s bills, apply current Ava generation rates to each product, then add the same delivery and non-bypassable charges to both for a true comparison.
Solar customer billing with Ava
- NEM credits and rules remain with PG&E. Your net imported kWh are billed under your chosen Ava product’s generation rate, and exported energy credits follow PG&E’s NEM framework.
EV charging and monthly costs
- More kWh means a larger dollar premium for Renewable 100. Off-peak charging on TOU schedules can help manage total costs.
How quickly product changes take effect
- Changes often show on the next billing cycle, but timelines can vary. Confirm current rules with Ava before switching.
