Santa Monicans could soon receive 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources if council approves a staff recommendation to join a new power provider at the most sustainable level.

Santa Monica will be part of a Community Choice Aggregation system next year that gives customers the ability to choose who they purchase electricity from and what percentage they receive from renewable sources. Locals will be automatically enrolled in a default option as of January 1 and council will debate what that default level will be at their Oct. 23 meeting.

City Staff are recommending selection of a 100 percent renewable tier as the default option. Other options include 50 percent and 36 percent with varying prices. Staff estimate the maximum tier will increase rates.

“The average residential monthly bill ranges from $55-81 per month (2016 data),” said the staff report. “Based on this average, a 7 – 9% rate increase translates into an approximate $4-8 increase on monthly utility bills, and $56-72 increase in annual utility bills.”

Read More: http://www.smdp.com/staff-hope-renewable-energy-will-spark-interest-among-power-customers/170186