SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Thousands of East Bay residents have just been told a new power company has taken over, and they've been automatically enrolled and it's causing quite a stir.
Mamie Winstead of El Cerrito knows her lights will go on when she flicks the switch, and PG&E will charge a manageable $40 a month for gas and electricity. She got a little alarmed when an outfit she never heard of said it is now her new electric company.
Winstead and everyone else in El Cerrito just got the same notice. A group called MCE will take over as their power supply company in May unless they opt out right away. That made Winstead suspicious.
"It sounds shady," she said. "You're telling me if I don't call and tell you I don't want something, I automatically get it?" she said.
Winstead doesn't know what MCE is, or how it took over, but it seemed wrong to put everyone into the new company and make them ask to get out.
"So I called 7 On Your Side to say maybe we ought to investigate this and see what it is," Winstead said.
Seven On Your Side has reported before about Marin Clean Energy (MCE), a local government program that aims to supply renewable electricity to local residents at a lower cost.
"We are very trustworthy, we have certification from the Better Business Bureau ," said Dawn Weisz, Marin Clean Energy spokesperson.
The program began in Marin County three years ago, joined later by Richmond, San Pablo, Napa County and now El Cerrito and Benicia.
It's run by a board of elected officials from each city. They buy and generate their own electricity, then set rates. Meetings are open to the public.
"Our mission is to serve the community," Weisz said. "That's very different than a private corporation whose mission is to retain a profit for shareholders."
Residents can opt out and remain with PG&E. Otherwise, MCE will start supplying their electricity. PG&E will still deliver it, and customers will still get one bill from PG&E.
"They would save money our rates are lower,"
MCE says its customers pay on average $1.50 per month less than they do with PG&E. Half the electricity comes from solar and other green sources. By comparison, 22 percent of PG&E electricity is renewable.
"One of the main reasons we wanted to do that switch was for climate change reasons," El Cerrito resident Nick Dirr said.
Dirr is not only staying with MCE, he opted for a more expensive plan that uses 100 percent renewable energy.
"If it works for Marin it's fine, if it works for some people here it's fine, but I don't think it'll work for me," Winstead said.
Residents can opt out of Marin Clean Energy at any time. However, if you wait more than 60 days after the new service starts on May 1, an opt out will cost $5.
Click here for information on Marin Clean Energy.
Click here for information on Marin Clean Energy rates.
Click here to opt out of Marin Clean Energy.
Click here for information on Marin Clean Energy Benicia
Click here for information on Marin Clean Energy El Cerrito