PALMDALE – Palmdale residents and businesses will soon have a new default energy provider: Energy for Palmdale’s Independent Choice (EPIC). Residential customers will automatically be enrolled in EPIC starting on October 1, 2022, and commercial customers on March 1, 2023.
“EPIC offers our community a locally controlled choice where there wasn’t one before,” said Palmdale Mayor Steve Hofbauer. “Our program will offer customers competitively priced clean energy, create opportunities for innovative community programs and help us significantly cut local greenhouse gas emissions to meet statewide climate goals.”
Created by and for the city of Palmdale, EPIC will offer clean energy at competitive rates. The program is an alternative to Southern California Edison (SCE) for power generation, meaning EPIC will purchase power on behalf of customers while SCE continues to deliver power to homes and businesses through its power lines. Because EPIC is a locally managed entity, any excess revenue generated by the program will be reinvested in the community through projects, programs, and other incentives. Additionally, through the development of future renewable energy projects, the program will support local job creation.
All residents will be automatically enrolled in the program’s default energy plan EPIC Power, which offers customers 38% renewable energy. Renewable content for EPIC Power may fluctuate but will always meet or exceed state mandates for renewable energy. Residents may choose to opt up to EPIC Power100, the program’s 100% carbon-free plan, or opt out and remain with SCE.
Residents received a notification in the mail in August about the upcoming change and instructions on how to opt up or opt out. EPIC will mail residents three more notices in the following months before and after the program launches. EPIC is supported by ratepayers, with no taxpayer subsidies. The program is funded by program revenues and reserves and has a budget separate from the City’s general fund.
When launched, EPIC— a community choice aggregation (CCA) program — will be the 25th entity of its kind in California. CCAs currently serve more than 11 million customers in the state. To learn more, opt up, or opt out of EPIC, visit PalmdaleEPICEnergy.com. For customer support, call 661-267-5419 or email EPICSupport@PalmdaleEPICEnergy.com.
[Information via news release from the city of Palmdale.]
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Joe Garcia says
I SMELL ROTTEN CHEESE!! Why is SCE doing all the foot work ( billing, shutting off or turning on power, etc…) Adding a middle man??? ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!!!
David Romez says
I always wondered why the Palmdale Mayor was always sniffing the rear of Rex and Marvin, now I know.
Follow the Money says
Do your homework Palmdale residents. Did you know that R. Rex Parris and his city council are the board members of CalChoice, of which EPIC belongs? https://californiachoiceenergyauthority.com/leadership/
Did you know that money from Palmdale ratepayers will go to the city of Lancaster under the leadership of Mayor R. Rex Parris? Did you know that 17 percent of Lancaster’s general fund comes from its energy program? https://californiachoiceenergyauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/LE-Budget_CityofLancasterPDFFinal2021.pdf#page28
See pages 21 and 78.
Did you know that Palmdale’s staff recommended that the city pursue LA County’s CCA which had over 30 cities on board? From page 10 of the December 11, 2018 staff report: “Based on the information and findings outlined above, staff recommends the City Council direct staff to work with the Los Angeles County CPA to determine if they would be willing to execute a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Palmdale Power Plant, if so could also provide value to City rate payers through a CCA agreement.”
Why? Follow the money.
Do your homework Palmdale people. Many Lancaster people were not and are not happy with their arrangement.
Joe Sage says
Why would a elected board of Palmdale take this action without the consent of the very people they are supposed to represent? I’ll tell you why, they all accept big campaign dollars from Rex Parris and Marvin Crist and Droopy Drew Mercy runs their election Campaigns ( for a large fee of course). The sellouts start at the top with Mayor Hofbauer and go to Auston Bishop , Richard Loa and Juan Carrillo. Laura Bittencourt is the only elected official not on the payroll but Lancaster has recruted Dave Gomez to run against her in this upcoming Palmdale election.. We all remember Dave Gomez who raised our rates while he served on the Palmdale Water District and was known for living high on the hog until he was removed by the voters. BTW Dave Gomez is Married to Kathy (job killer) Maclaren who never saw a rate hike she didn’t approve. Bad people doing bad things to our residents! Opt-Out of this Lancaster money making scheme!
Thankful says
Thank you for this information. It is sad that it’s tied to Lancaster. I don’t trust them to run this like I don’t trust them to run anything.
Paul says
This looks like a possible RICO case. I hope it gets investigated and it certainly should be reported on by this publication. Automatic opt-in makes it criminal
America's Most Maniacal MAGAt says
**** BEWARE *****
Wrecks Parris, the megalomaniac and untrustworthy mayor of Lancaster, is the head of the snake here. He leads the straw company that owns and profits from EPIC. EPIC rates will be higher, but they won’t say of course.
OPT OUT. It’s easy.
Palmdalian says
It is true that Wrecks is the head of this. EPIC belongs to CalChoice and the CalChoice board is the Lancaster city council. A lot of Palmdale ratepayer money will go to Lancaster where Wrecks is in charge. You learn a lot when you do your research. Google California Choice Energy leadership.
I opted out.
George T says
I have heard from a reliable source that the city manager of Lancaster is paid 100,000 a year extra for overseeing EPIC as its CEO. That guy is pulling down some serious money plus his city manager pay.
Les Carter says
Lancaster City Manager is paid 100,000 in addition to his city manager salary to oversee this money making sham, easy money for these so called leaders.
George T says
Mayor Hufbower has sold out to Lancaster with this opt out scam. Who does he think he is?