Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) Rate Selection Guide
Alameda Municipal Power (AMP), founded in 1887, is the oldest municipal electric utility in California and serves about 37,200 customers in the City of Alameda. AMP runs a modern NorthStar/Harris customer portal (myAMP) with 100% smart meter coverage capturing 15-minute interval data, plus a formal AB 802 building energy benchmarking data request process — but no Green Button, EDI, or public API programs.
Market Overview
Alameda Municipal Power is a vertically integrated municipal utility serving the City of Alameda. Rates are set by the city's Public Utilities Board rather than the CPUC, and there is no retail electricity choice for AMP customers — the city itself is the community-owned provider.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) is the City of Alameda's publicly owned utility; the Public Utilities Board approves cost-of-service rates with no profit margin, and AMP advertises rates roughly 47% below neighboring PG&E on average. Commercial customers move between Schedules A-1, A-2, and A-3 automatically based on monthly kWh and kW thresholds (reviewed twice yearly). Rates unbundle into Distribution, Public Purpose, and Generation components, with Rider EAC energy adjustment, utility users tax, and other riders added. Demand-metered schedules bill the highest 15-minute kW each cycle.
Effective: July 1, 2025 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule A-1 — General Service | commercial | Non-residential customers under 8,000 kWh/month (all of last 12 months) and under 500 kW demand; also common-area metering for multi-family buildings. | Energy-only rate: $0.20636/kWh total ($0.09314 distribution + $0.00640 public purpose + $0.10682 generation) plus $39.06/month meter charge (effective 7/1/2025). No demand charge. | $0.20636/kWh + $39.06/month customer charge |
| Schedule A-2 — General Service, Demand Metered | commercial | Non-residential customers at or above 8,000 kWh/month (6 of last 12 months) with demand under 500 kW. | Three-part rate: per-kWh energy charge (~$0.1436/kWh total as of 7/1/2024), per-kW metered demand charge (~$14.06/kW), and ~$190.58/month customer charge. See current tariff for updated figures. | ~$0.1436/kWh (2024 tariff; see current schedule)+ ~$14.06/kW metered demand (2024 tariff; see current schedule) |
| Schedule A-3 — Medium General Service, Demand Metered | commercial | Poly-phase non-residential customers with demand of 500 kW to 4,000 kW (6 of last 12 months). | Three-part rate: ~$0.14239/kWh total energy, ~$17.44/kW metered demand, and ~$565.12/month customer charge (effective 7/1/2024). Power factor below 95% can hold customers on this schedule. See current tariff for updated figures. | ~$0.14239/kWh (2024 tariff; see current schedule)+ ~$17.44/kW metered demand (2024 tariff; see current schedule) |
| Rider SS — Standby Service | commercial | Commercial customers on A-1/A-2/A-3 with parallel onsite generation (solar, cogeneration, fuel cells) requiring backup service. | $18.00/kW-month reservation charge on contract capacity plus a $1.20/kVAR reactive demand charge above 0.14 kVAR per kW of contract capacity (2024 rider; see current tariff). | —+ $18.00/kW-month standby reservation charge |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Office or Retail Storefront
Small commercial spaces on Park Street, Webster Street, and Alameda Point under 8,000 kWh/month.
A-1 is energy-only with no demand charge, so small accounts avoid capacity billing entirely. At $0.20636/kWh you pay more per kWh than demand-metered schedules, but the simplicity wins below the 8,000 kWh threshold — and AMP reviews usage twice yearly and migrates you automatically if you grow.
- Track monthly kWh against the 8,000 kWh threshold — crossing it for 12 consecutive months moves you to A-2
- Efficiency upgrades (LED, HVAC controls) pay back fast at AMP's ~$0.21/kWh A-1 rate
- Remember Rider EAC and utility users tax are added on top of tariff rates when budgeting
Mid-Size Commercial or Industrial Facility
Facilities above 8,000 kWh/month — grocery stores, labs, light manufacturing at Alameda Point, and marine operations.
Demand-metered schedules cut the energy rate roughly 30% versus A-1 in exchange for a per-kW charge on your highest 15-minute peak. High-load-factor facilities come out well ahead; peaky loads should invest in demand management since each avoided kW saves $14-17/month.
- Stagger HVAC, compressor, and equipment starts — billing demand is set by a single 15-minute window
- Keep power factor at or above 95%; below that, AMP can hold you on a higher schedule
- Audit the customer charge tier — A-3 carries a ~$565/month fixed charge, so verify your demand actually exceeds 500 kW
EV Fleet or Workplace Charging
Businesses electrifying fleets or installing workplace charging in Alameda's compact, EV-friendly service territory.
Unmanaged DC fast charging can spike 15-minute demand and dominate an A-2/A-3 bill. Managed overnight Level 2 charging keeps demand flat and exploits AMP's already-low, 100% clean energy supply — AMP's power mix has been 100% clean since 2020, simplifying fleet emissions reporting.
- Use load management software to cap simultaneous charging below your existing facility peak
- Separately meter large charging installations and model A-1 vs. A-2 economics before energizing
- Ask AMP about EV programs and rebates — the utility actively supports transportation electrification
Facility with Onsite Solar or Cogeneration
Commercial buildings with parallel-connected generation needing backup from AMP's grid.
Rider SS applies on top of your base A-schedule when AMP must stand ready to replace onsite generation. The $18/kW-month reservation charge means right-sizing contract capacity matters — over-contracting wastes money every month.
- Set contract capacity to realistic backup needs, not generator nameplate
- Correct reactive demand at the generator to avoid the $1.20/kVAR penalty above the 0.14 kVAR/kW allowance
- Model standby costs into solar/cogen ROI before installation, not after
Cost Optimization Strategies
AMP's cost-of-service rates are already roughly 47% below PG&E, so the biggest savings levers are structural: landing on the right A-schedule, managing 15-minute demand peaks, and maintaining power factor. Because AMP unbundles distribution, public purpose, and generation charges and adds riders, verify the full delivered rate when modeling projects.
Peak Demand Management
For: A-2 and A-3 customers
Demand-metered schedules (A-2, A-3) bill the single highest 15-minute kW interval each cycle at roughly $14-17/kW. Stagger equipment starts, sequence HVAC, and use BMS demand limiting to shave peaks.
Rate Schedule Verification
For: All commercial customers, especially those near schedule thresholds
AMP migrates customers between A-1, A-2, and A-3 based on twice-yearly usage reviews, but boundary cases are worth modeling yourself. A facility near the 8,000 kWh or 500 kW thresholds can land on a materially better rate by managing usage or requesting review.
Power Factor Correction
For: Facilities with large motor, compressor, or HVAC loads
Customers with power factor below 95% can be held on higher-cost schedules during AMP's reviews, and standby customers pay $1.20/kVAR for excess reactive demand. Capacitor banks at motor-heavy facilities typically pay back quickly.
Energy Efficiency at A-1 Rates
For: A-1 small commercial customers
Small commercial accounts pay ~$0.206/kWh all-in on A-1, making lighting, refrigeration, and HVAC efficiency projects unusually attractive — every kWh avoided saves the full bundled rate plus riders and taxes.
Standby Capacity Right-Sizing
For: Customers with parallel onsite generation under Rider SS
Rider SS reservation charges run $18/kW-month on contract capacity whether or not backup is used. Review contract capacity annually against actual generation performance and trim over-contracted kW.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
How do commercial customers get 15-minute interval data from Alameda Municipal Power?▾
AMP's smart meters capture 15-minute intervals for all accounts, and commercial customers will view that granularity in the myAMP portal (https://myamp.alamedamp.com) once interval viewing finishes deployment. There is no bulk export or Green Button option, so confirm current portal status with AMP at (510) 748-3900.
How do building owners pull AMP data for AB 802 benchmarking?▾
Download the Data Request, Proof of Ownership, NDA, and (for multi-tenant buildings) Tenant Authorization forms from https://www.alamedamp.com/226/Energy-Benchmarking, complete them with the building address and AMP account numbers, and mail them to 2000 Grand Street, Alameda, CA 94501. AMP releases annual and monthly consumption in spreadsheet form for ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager; allow 2-4 weeks.
Can energy consultants access AMP customer data on a client's behalf?▾
Yes, via the AB 802 benchmarking process — but the building owner must sign all authorization and ownership forms personally; signature authority cannot be delegated. Outside benchmarking, AMP has no API or aggregator program, so consultants negotiate custom arrangements through customer service at amp@alamedamp.com.
Does AMP support Green Button, EDI, or a public API?▾
No. Green Button/ESPI is not implemented (AMP is absent from the Green Button Alliance directory as of May 2026), no EDI trading partner program is documented, and there is no developer portal. AMP's Harris NorthStar CIS could support future capabilities — ask AMP about its roadmap at (510) 748-3900.
Can AMP customers choose a competitive electricity supplier?▾
No. AMP is a city-owned municipal utility; customers take bundled service with rates set by Alameda's Public Utilities Board. There is no retail choice or CCA overlay in AMP territory, so cost optimization focuses on rate schedule selection and load management.
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