Direct Access—Electricity

Direct Access (DA) is an option that allows eligible customers to purchase their electricity directly from competitive {energy service providers (ESPs)}. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued Decision D.10-03-022 on March 11, 2010, approving a limited reopening of DA for non-residential customers. PG&E will continue to transport and deliver electricity for all its customers taking service under DA.

Decision D.10-05-039, approved May 20, 2010, extended the initial Open Enrollment Window from April 16, 2010 to July 15, 2010, and changed the enrollment date for Direct Access Enrollment for 2011 to July 16, 2010.

DA has not been available to new customers in California since the Legislature suspended the program during the energy crisis in September 2001. CPUC Decision D.10-03-022 implements Senate Bill 695, a new law signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in October 2009, providing for a limited reopening of DA to non-residential customers starting in April 2010.
For more information on this, see frequently asked questions.

Under the reopening rules, customers may enroll in DA up to a maximum allowable annual limit (measured in gigawatt-hours). PG&E's DA load will be permitted to increase over the next four years from the current (November 2009) 5,574 GWh of DA load to a new total cap of 9,520 GWh.

• First year (April - December 2010): Up to 35% of the room available under the cap (1,381 GWh)
• Second year: Up to 70% of the room available under the cap (an additional 1,381 GWh)
• Third year: Up to 90 % of the room available under the cap (an additional 789 GWh)
• Fourth year: Up to 100% of the room available under the cap (an additional 395 GWh)