East Bay Community Energy, one of the nation's top clean energy providers, announced in late October that it has changed its name to Ava Community Energy (Ava). The rebranding  signals Ava Community Energy's expansion beyond the East Bay to encompass Alameda County and parts of the San Joaquin Valley, as well as the company's growing commitment to driving electrification across its service territory.

“The number of decisions we make each day around our energy consumption can feel overwhelming, but what if your energy provider was a trusted resource in making these decisions easier?” asks Elisa Márquez, Chair of the Board of Directors for the new Ava Community Energy. “This is our vision for Ava Community Energy. Supplying one point seven million residents with low-cost clean power, Ava cuts through complexity by offering our residents straightforward guidance toward better, clean-powered living.”

For five years, East Bay Community Energy has been a national trailblazer in broadening equitable access to clean energy, building resilience in the communities it serves, and creating demand for clean energy solutions, according to officials. Now, as Ava Community Energy, Ava’s core electricity generation business continues to supply residents, businesses, and municipalities with green electricity at lower rates than local incumbent utilities. Ava’s growing list of resilience and electrification programs also includes solar and battery backup installations for critical municipal facilities, a try-before-you-buy induction cooktop program, and an upcoming e-bike lending and incentive program that will be the largest of its kind in California.

 In July, the organization launched a new web tool that helps residential users find out if they qualify for government rebates and incentives to reduce energy use. This first-of-its-kind tool pulls data from federal, state, and local sources. Its scope spans home electrification programs as well as transportation electrification. The tool’s search parameters include zip code, renter/homeowner, household income, tax filing status, and household size. This allows the tool to provide customized results that include income-qualifying incentives and geographically specific incentives, as well as incentives that are specific to homeowners and renters.

“Since our inception, East Bay Community Energy has always been a mirror to the communities we serve,” says Nick Chaset, Ava CEO. “As we expand beyond the East Bay Area, our new identity ensures we’re better able to engage the dynamism of our entire region. We are proud to be the go-to clean energy partner for the East Bay Area, the Valley, and beyond.”

Ava Community Energy is the not-for-profit public power provider for nearly 2 million residents and commercial customers in Alameda County and the City of Tracy. In 2025, service will be extended to the San Joaquin County cities of Stockton and Lathrop. As one of 25 community choice aggregation programs operating in California, Ava is part of the movement to provide energy choice while expediting local and state-wide climate action goals. Ava is committed to creating a brighter future in its communities and beyond by providing clean power at competitive rates, reinvesting in member communities, and developing programs that make it easy for customers to discover, try, and adopt clean energy solutions, officials say.

For more information about Ava Community Energy, please visit www.avaenergy.org.

Photo by American Public Power Association on Unsplash