California leads the nation with 25 operational Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) serving over 15 million customers across more than 200 cities and counties. The model works: communities can choose their energy sources, prioritize renewables, and align electricity procurement with local climate goals.
However, California’s rapid electrification is outpacing the grid’s ability to accommodate new load, creating new challenges for these aggregators. Data center load growth is projected to double or triple by 2028, with much of this expansion concentrated in CCA territories. Meanwhile, the state faces an affordability crisis, with utility customers paying some of the highest electricity rates in the nation.
Traditional infrastructure upgrades are costly and time-consuming, making load flexibility and demand response essential tools for managing capacity constraints, deferring distribution system investments, and delivering clean, reliable energy at competitive rates.
How Uplight Supports CCA Programs
Uplight’s flexibility management platform deploys both behavioral and automated demand response programs to help CCAs reduce grid strain, lower costs, and cut emissions while maintaining high customer satisfaction. A few examples include:
San José Clean Energy’s Multi-Device, Multi-Language Program
San José Clean Energy is building toward 25 MW of dispatchable VPP capacity by 2028 through its Peak Rewards program, which offers behavioral and device-based participation options for the CCA’s 350,000 customers. The program stands out for its accessibility—offering communication in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese—while supporting smart thermostats, batteries, EV chargers, and water heaters. Read more about the program here.
Pioneer Community Energy Rewards Customers for Shifting Energy
Serving nearly one million customers in northern California, Pioneer Community Energy’s PowerShift Rewards program offers straightforward incentives for customers that take action to reduce their energy use: a $25 gift card for enrolling in the program plus $2 per kWh saved during peak events called by the California Independent System Operator. The 2024 pilot reduced nearly 1.5 MWh and yielded almost 0.5 MW. Pioneer plans to add smart device control for deeper load shifting. Learn more about the program here.
Sonoma Clean Power’s Inclusive and Impactful Program
Sonoma Clean Power, California’s first CCA serving 235,000 customers, offers both behavioral and automated demand response options through their GridSavvy Rewards program. The program has a streamlined sign-up process that allows dual enrollment, and event communications are offered in English and Spanish via email, text, or voice call to maximize participation. With about 12,000 participants, the program contributed nearly 5 MW per event in 2024.
With behavioral, multi-lingual, and multi-device DR options, California’s CCAs are improving VPP program access, enabling customer participation at scale, and shifting meaningful load. As CCAs continue to grow and innovate, they’re demonstrating a practical model for the energy transition—one that puts communities and customers at the center of program design.
