Livermore's Electricity Providers: Ava Community Energy and PG&E
Livermore homes get their electricity from two providers on one PG&E bill: PG&E delivers it, and Ava Community Energy supplies the generation by default. PG&E's average residential rate was 33.7¢ per kWh as of June 2026 (CPUC Public Advocates Office), and most of its customers also pay a fixed $24.15 a month.
Who supplies electricity in Livermore
PG&E delivers power to Livermore homes, reads the meter and sends the bill; Ava Community Energy supplies the generation by default, because the CEC's load-serving map places the city in its area. The Livermore bill lists PG&E delivery charges and Ava generation charges separately.
What electricity costs in Livermore
PG&E's average residential rate was 33.7¢ per kWh as of June 2026 (CPUC Public Advocates Office), plus a fixed $24.15 a month ($12.08 on FERA, $6.00 on CARE) under CPUC Decision 24-05-028. Its residential plans include time-of-use plans E-TOU-C and E-TOU-D, the Electric Home plan E-ELEC, the electric-vehicle plans EV2 and EV-B, and the tiered plan E-1. The California utility rate tracker compares the large utilities.
Discounts and solar billing
CARE takes 30–35% off and FERA 18% off for eligible households, according to the CPUC, and new solar customers go on its Net Billing Tariff, whose export credit the CPUC says is usually below the retail rate. PG&E's assistance page has the application. Ava credits the generation part of a solar bill under its own terms. Installers active here are on the Livermore solar companies page; prices and permits on the Livermore solar cost page.
Reading a Livermore solar bill
For a bill with Ava Community Energy generation, keep Ava and PG&E charges and credits distinct. Their annual true-ups can fall in different months. Check existing NEM or Solar Billing Plan status and use the actual rate schedule before comparing a new array or expansion.
What Ava adds to a new Livermore solar bill
A system interconnected in Livermore today goes on the Solar Billing Plan, and Ava requires residential customers on that plan to take PG&E's E-ELEC rate. Grid imports are charged at the retail rate for that schedule; exports earn Energy Export Credits that change by hour and day. Ava says its policy follows PG&E's closely but pays more in two places: an extra $0.025 per kWh for exports between 3 and 8 p.m. for customers not on CARE or FERA, and an extra $0.01 per kWh on all exports for CARE and FERA customers.
On top of those, the statewide Energy Export Bonus Credit is locked for nine years at the value for the year you interconnect. Ava lists it at $0.009 per kWh for a standard residential system interconnected in 2026, and $0.036 for income-qualified households. Ava settles its generation account every April; a surplus of $100 or more is paid out, typically in June or July through its vendor Choice Digital, and a smaller one rolls forward as a credit. PG&E settles its delivery account on its own date, which is often a different month.
So ask each bidder three things: did it model the E-ELEC rate, did it count Ava's 3-to-8 p.m. bonus only on the exports that actually happen in those hours, and which true-up month did it assume for each company?
If the bill itself is the problem, start with why California electric bills run high and the PG&E high-bill breakdown.
Livermore electricity questions
Who provides electricity in Livermore?
PG&E delivers the power and sends the bill; Ava Community Energy supplies the generation by default. Both appear as separate charges on the PG&E bill.
Sources
- California Energy Commission: Electric Load Serving Entities (IOU & POU) map layer, queried at the city's Census point (checked 2026-09-24)
- California Energy Commission: Electric Load Serving Entities (Other, including CCAs) map layer, queried at the city's Census point (checked 2026-09-24)
- Ava Community Energy: service area (checked 2026-09-23)
- CPUC Public Advocates Office, Q2 2026 Electric Rates Report (residential average rates) (checked 2026-09-24)
- CPUC Decision 24-05-028 (income-graduated fixed charge: $24.15, $12.08, $6.00) (checked 2026-09-24)
- CPUC: CARE/FERA Program (discounts; income limits June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027) (checked 2026-09-24)
- CPUC: Net Energy Metering and Net Billing (checked 2026-09-24)
- PG&E: Residential rates table, March 1, 2026 to present (Advice Letter 7846-E) (checked 2026-09-24)
- Ava: SmartHome Battery (installation rebate and participation payments) (checked 2026-09-10)
- Ava: NEM billing and PG&E delivery relationship (checked 2026-09-10)
- Ava: Solar Billing Plan (checked 2026-09-10)
Check a Solar Quote Against Your Livermore Bill
Enter your bill and the terms from a lease, PPA or loan quote. The tool adds up the contract's payments; it does not predict savings.
PG&E average residential rate: 33.7¢/kWh as of June 2026 (CPUC Public Advocates Office). Your own rate plan may differ.
Your current bill
$300
per month, as entered
Rough monthly usage
819 kWh
bill less fixed charge ÷ avg rate
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Total contract payments
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The contract totals come only from the numbers you entered. A lease or PPA payment does not replace your whole bill: you still pay the utility for power the system does not cover, plus the $24.15 monthly fixed charge most PG&E, SCE and SDG&E customers pay under CPUC Decision 24-05-028 (about $6 on CARE and $12 on FERA). Ask the provider for its production estimate and add those remaining charges before comparing the quote with your current bill.
The usage figure is a rough estimate from an average rate; the kWh on your own bill is more accurate.
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Livermore Homeowner? See Your Options
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