San Jose Clean Energy Rate Selection Guide
San Jose Clean Energy (SJCE) is the City of San Jose's Community Choice Aggregator, automatically serving roughly 354,000 electric accounts with cleaner generation while PG&E continues to deliver power and handle metering, billing, and data. Customers are auto-enrolled in SJCE's GreenSource product and can upgrade to 100% renewable TotalGreen or opt out to PG&E generation.
San Jose Clean Energy Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-1 / A-10 | Small/medium commercial | SJCE generation per kWh (TOU) + PG&E delivery | Small businesses and light commercial |
| B-10 | Medium commercial | TOU generation per kWh + demand ($/kW) on delivery | Mid-size facilities with demand charges |
| B-19 | Large commercial | TOU generation per kWh + significant demand charges | Large facilities (~500-999 kW) |
| B-20 | Very large / industrial | TOU generation per kWh + large demand / voltage components | Industrial loads >= ~1,000 kW |
Market Overview
Under CCA, generation supply is a local choice (SJCE GreenSource or TotalGreen, or opt out to PG&E), while PG&E delivery remains regulated and bundled on a single bill. SJCE generation rates are designed to be competitive with PG&E's, plus PG&E's PCIA exit fee applies to CCA customers.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the San Jose Clean Energy Data Access Guide →
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Options
The City of San Jose's CCA. Default GreenSource product is ~62% renewable; TotalGreen is a 100% renewable upgrade. Customers are auto-enrolled and may opt out to PG&E generation.
Current Rate Schedules
SJCE 2026 generation rates took effect March 1, 2026, following San Jose City Council approval of a rate reduction equivalent to more than $50 million in year-over-year customer savings (about a 4% bill reduction for the average household). All commercial customers were transitioned to the statewide evening-peak Time-of-Use structure. SJCE bills only the generation component; PG&E delivery charges, the PCIA, and other fees are set by PG&E/CPUC. SJCE commercial schedules mirror PG&E's (e.g. A-1, A-10, B-10, B-19, B-20); exact per-kWh commercial generation rates are published on SJCE's rate sheets and are described structurally below rather than asserting unpublished figures.
Effective: March 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-1 / A-10 - Small & Medium Commercial | commercial | Small and medium commercial customers below the demand threshold for mandatory TOU demand metering (mirrors PG&E A-1/A-10). | SJCE volumetric generation charge per kWh (now on evening-peak TOU periods) plus PG&E delivery, PCIA, and fees on the same bill. GreenSource is the default; TotalGreen is a 100%-renewable upgrade. Per-kWh rates on SJCE rate sheets. | — |
| B-10 - Medium Commercial (TOU + Demand) | commercial | Medium commercial customers (roughly 75-499 kW) on time-of-use energy with demand charges (mirrors PG&E B-10). | SJCE TOU generation energy charge per kWh by period; PG&E delivery includes demand ($/kW) charges. GreenSource default / TotalGreen upgrade. Per-kWh rates on SJCE rate sheets. | — |
| B-19 - Large Commercial (TOU + Demand) | commercial | Large commercial customers (roughly 500-999 kW); SJCE references typical large commercial usage of 27,431 kWh on B-19SV (mirrors PG&E B-19). | SJCE TOU generation energy charges per kWh by period (evening-peak structure); PG&E delivery carries significant demand ($/kW) charges. GreenSource default / TotalGreen upgrade. Per-kWh rates on SJCE rate sheets. | — |
| B-20 - Very Large Commercial / Industrial | industrial | Very large commercial and industrial customers at or above ~1,000 kW, often taking service at primary/transmission voltage (mirrors PG&E B-20). | SJCE TOU generation energy charges per kWh by period; PG&E delivery includes large demand ($/kW) and voltage-based components. GreenSource default / TotalGreen upgrade. Per-kWh rates on SJCE rate sheets. | — |
| TotalGreen (100% renewable upgrade) | commercial | Optional upgrade available to any SJCE commercial customer wanting 100% renewable generation. | Adds a modest premium over the customer's underlying GreenSource generation rate (about $4/month more for an average home; commercial premium scales with usage). Per-kWh rates on SJCE rate sheets. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Small business / light commercial
Small commercial accounts on A-1/A-10 should confirm TOU usage patterns and decide between GreenSource and TotalGreen.
Small sites benefit most from shifting usage off evening peak; GreenSource gives the lowest generation rate while still ~62% renewable.
- Download Green Button data to see your TOU profile
- Shift discretionary load off the evening peak
- Consider TotalGreen if 100% renewable supports your goals
Mid-size facility with demand charges
B-10 customers should focus on demand management since PG&E delivery includes $/kW demand charges.
For mid-size loads, demand charges and TOU energy together drive cost; interval data reveals where to act.
- Use Share My Data to feed an energy management platform
- Stagger equipment startup to cut peak kW
- Pre-cool or pre-charge before peak periods
Large commercial (500-999 kW)
B-19 customers should pair interval analytics with storage/peak-shaving to manage substantial demand charges.
Large facilities face significant demand charges; SJCE references ~27,431 kWh typical B-19SV usage, so even small peak reductions matter.
- Request full-history interval data from SJCE for battery sizing
- Target the evening-peak window for load shifting
- Evaluate on-site storage for demand-charge relief
Industrial / very large load
B-20 industrial customers at primary/transmission voltage should optimize demand, voltage-level service, and generation product.
Very large loads carry the biggest demand and voltage components; data-driven peak management and a deliberate generation choice have the largest absolute impact.
- Integrate Share My Data into SCADA/EMS for continuous monitoring
- Coordinate storage and DR (Peak Rewards) for demand relief
- Use TotalGreen if 100% renewable supports ESG reporting
Historical Rate Trends
SJCE sets generation rates annually via San Jose City Council, generally positioning them at or slightly below PG&E generation. Rates change each March.
March 1, 2026
City Council-approved 2026 generation rates took effect, reducing the average household bill about 4% (roughly $7/month) and totaling more than $50M in year-over-year savings; all commercial customers transitioned to evening-peak TOU. GreenSource remained ~62% renewable; TotalGreen stayed 100% renewable (about $4/month more for an average home).
-4%Overall trend: SJCE has historically priced at or below PG&E generation; the 2026 update was a reduction (more than $50M in customer savings), reversing the upward pressure seen in some prior years.
Next expected change: Next annual rate update expected around March 2027 via City Council approval.
Cost Optimization Strategies
SJCE commercial savings come from shifting load out of evening-peak TOU periods, managing demand ($/kW) charges on PG&E delivery, choosing the right generation product, and using interval data to inform efficiency and storage decisions.
Shift load off evening peak
For: All commercial customers
With all commercial customers on evening-peak TOU, move discretionary load (charging, pre-cooling, processes) to lower-cost periods.
Manage peak demand (kW)
For: Medium to large C&I (B-10/B-19/B-20)
Use interval data to identify and shave demand spikes that drive PG&E demand charges on B-10/B-19/B-20.
Right-size generation product
For: All commercial customers
Choose GreenSource for the lowest generation rate or TotalGreen for 100% renewable; align with sustainability goals and budget.
Use interval data for storage/efficiency
For: C&I customers
Pull 15-minute data via Green Button/Share My Data or SJCE requests to size batteries and target efficiency projects.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download San Jose Clean Energy interval data →
Deregulated Market Shopping
San Jose's CCA structure gives customers a generation choice without traditional retail deregulation: stay with SJCE (GreenSource default or TotalGreen upgrade) or opt out to PG&E generation. PG&E always provides delivery. Direct Access (third-party ESP supply) is limited and capped by the CPUC for non-residential customers.
How to Compare San Jose Clean Energy Suppliers
- 01Review SJCE GreenSource vs. TotalGreen vs. PG&E generation at sanjosecleanenergy.org/commercial-rates
- 02Compare SJCE generation rates against PG&E's generation rate plus the PCIA
- 03Choose to stay on SJCE (auto-enrolled), upgrade to TotalGreen, or opt out to PG&E
- 04Large customers may explore CPUC Direct Access (capped/waitlisted) as a separate option
Contract Terms for San Jose Clean Energy Supply Agreements
- No fixed-term contract for default CCA service (opt out any time)
- TotalGreen upgrade is month-to-month at a premium
- Direct Access requires an ESP contract and CPUC enrollment
Common Pitfalls When Shopping San Jose Clean Energy Rates
- PG&E's PCIA exit fee applies to CCA customers and changes the SJCE-vs-PG&E comparison
- Opting out to PG&E may involve transitional/return rules
- Direct Access capacity is limited and may be waitlisted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who supplies and who bills SJCE commercial customers?▾
San Jose Clean Energy supplies the electric generation (the default GreenSource product or the 100% renewable TotalGreen upgrade), while PG&E delivers the power and handles metering and billing. Customers receive a single PG&E bill that shows SJCE's generation charge plus PG&E delivery charges, the PCIA, and applicable fees.
How does a commercial customer get interval data from SJCE?▾
Because PG&E meters SJCE customers, interval data comes through PG&E: download 15-minute data via Green Button at myaccount.pge.com, or authorize a vendor via Share My Data (Green Button Connect / OAuth). SJCE also fulfills custom commercial interval-data requests by emailing info@sanjosecleanenergy.org, covering the full history since enrollment (Feb 2019).
Can a third party access SJCE customer data via API?▾
Yes, through PG&E's Share My Data program, which implements Green Button Connect My Data (ESPI) over OAuth 2.0. The customer authorizes a registered vendor, who then receives interval and billing data automatically. California's MIDAS API additionally provides SJCE time-varying rates and GHG signals. SJCE itself does not run a customer-facing API.
What commercial rate schedules does SJCE use?▾
SJCE generation schedules mirror PG&E's commercial rate classes: A-1/A-10 for small-to-medium commercial, B-10 and B-19 for medium-to-large customers with demand charges, and B-20 for very large commercial and industrial loads. All commercial customers are now on evening-peak Time-of-Use periods. Per-kWh generation rates are published on SJCE's rate sheets.
How did SJCE rates change for 2026?▾
Effective March 1, 2026, the San Jose City Council approved a generation-rate reduction equivalent to more than $50 million in year-over-year savings - about a 4% bill cut (roughly $7/month) for the average household. GreenSource stayed ~62% renewable and TotalGreen remained 100% renewable (about $4/month more for an average home).
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