Central Coast Community Energy Approves 2026-27 Budget
MONTEREY, Calif., September 17, 2026 – The Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) Policy Board has approved its Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget, emphasizing investments in clean electricity and maintaining stable customer rates across its service area.
3CE, governed by representatives from its 35 member communities, has set an approximate $500 million annual budget, which is nearly 15% lower than the previous year, primarily due to decreased energy costs.
3CE CEO Robert Shaw stated, “The board’s decision reflects confidence in 3CE’s mission and in the long-term value of local, clean energy. Our leadership is investing in the necessary people, programs, and energy resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while delivering reliable clean electricity at optimal customer value.”
The budget supports over 1.2 million people and 515,000 customer accounts in Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz, covering about 95% of the regional demand. More than half of its electricity load is met through long-term contracts with clean and renewable energy projects.
A significant addition to this budget is the creation of the Department of Energy Solutions, aimed at enhancing 3CE’s capability to develop local energy projects, which include EV charging stations, distributed generation, and battery storage.
San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg remarked, “This budget shows 3CE’s responsible stewardship of customer dollars while providing new avenues for cities and counties to implement their energy and climate goals into actionable projects.”
Key priorities for this year include expanding EV charging infrastructure, funding a public charging station in Santa Maria, and advancing 3CE’s planned headquarters in Monterey. Additionally, investments will focus on energy optimization and electrification across transportation, buildings, and agriculture, along with initiatives like transportation and building electrification incentives.
3CE is also rolling out a Virtual Power Plant Program to help customers manage energy use during peak demand.
About Central Coast Community Energy
Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) is a public agency dedicated to providing competitively priced electricity from renewable resources. It serves over 1.2 million residents, including residential, commercial, and agricultural customers across Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz counties. 3CE’s revenues support the transition to carbon-free power and fund innovative local energy programs. For more information, visit 3CEnergy.org or follow on social media.
