Coronado Joined San Diego Community Power
The city's move shifts energy procurement for 12,000 local accounts to the community choice aggregator.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Utilities
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The San Diego Community Power board has unanimously approved the addition of Coronado as its eighth member, expanding the program to include 12,000 additional customer accounts. The change marks an expansion of the regional community choice aggregator, which now serves over 972,000 active accounts.
Why it matters
This membership expansion reflects rising municipal demand for locally governed energy procurement and diversification. For operators, the move signals a shift in power generation portfolios and potential rate adjustments as Coronado integrates into the larger entity's service structure.
The addition of Coronado adds 12,000 accounts to the existing 972,000 served by San Diego Community Power, representing an approximate 1% increase in total annual energy load. Service rollout for these new customers is expected to begin in March 2028.
The players
San Diego Community Power
A community choice aggregator that procures electricity for over 972,000 accounts in the San Diego region.
San Diego Gas & Electric
A regional utility providing transmission, distribution, and billing services for the local energy market.
Coronado
A member municipality that recently voted to join the community choice energy program to meet climate goals.
The details
Coronado joins as an eighth member, with customers automatically enrolled in the PowerOn program while retaining the option to opt out and stay with San Diego Gas & Electric. San Diego Gas & Electric will continue to handle essential utility functions, including transmission, distribution lines, maintenance, and billing. Customers will continue to receive a single statement from the incumbent utility that reflects the new Community Power electric generation charges.
Timeline
September 24, 2026: Board unanimously approved the resolution.
March 2028: Anticipated service start date in Coronado.
Market Landscape
Coronado’s inclusion follows the standard joint powers agreement framework established for California energy aggregators to consolidate municipal buying power. This move tracks the broader industry trend of local governments seeking to bypass traditional utility generation models in favor of community-controlled portfolios.
Operators in Coronado should monitor the March 2028 service launch for changes to their electricity generation rates and renewable portfolio options. Businesses should confirm whether they wish to remain with San Diego Gas & Electric or participate in the default PowerOn program once enrollment notices arrive.
The takeaway
The move highlights how municipal energy procurement is shifting from centralized utility control to regional community models. Business operators should calendar the 2028 transition date to audit their energy statements for new line items related to the Community Power generation charges.
Further reading
Learn more about local energy trends in the Utilities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Diego Union-Tribune.
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