100% Green Power: Buyer Perception In Claremont

Claremont flipped the switch to 100% Green Power, and you may be wondering what that means for your monthly bill and your home’s value. If you are buying or selling in town, energy choices can feel confusing. This guide breaks down how the program works, what buyers notice, and how to highlight the right features to protect your bottom line. Let’s dive in.

What 100% Green Power means

Claremont’s City Council selected Clean Power Alliance’s 100% Green Power as the citywide default in 2022. Clean Power Alliance (CPA) supplies the electricity, while Southern California Edison (SCE) still delivers power, reads your meter, and sends the bill. You will see CPA generation charges on your regular SCE bill. You can also choose a different CPA tier or opt out if you prefer. The city’s program page explains the decision and local details.

CPA’s Green Power is marketed as 100% renewable energy from sources like solar, wind, and geothermal. Member cities choose the default tier, and Claremont chose the highest renewable option to cut local greenhouse gas emissions. For context on how defaults work across the region, see this overview of Clean Power Alliance defaults.

Expected bill impact

City and CPA materials projected a modest increase when Claremont moved to 100% Green Power. Typical estimates were about 2 to 3 percent, often described as roughly 3 to 5 dollars per month for a typical household, though your exact outcome depends on usage and rate changes. You can review a recent bill to see the split between SCE delivery and CPA generation. If you want to compare tiers, CPA provides tools and customer service to walk you through options.

Solar, batteries, and your bill

Claremont’s default does not change how your panels produce power, but it does affect who credits your exports and how billing appears.

If you already have solar

If your system was interconnected under legacy net energy metering, you generally keep those terms for the remainder of your legacy window. CPA administers the generation side of credits under its Solar Billing Plan, and SCE handles delivery charges. CPA uses a single annual true-up month in April and offers a Net Surplus Compensation rate it describes as 10 percent higher than SCE’s. Learn more on CPA’s Solar Billing Plan page and FAQs.

If you are planning solar

California’s successor policy, often called NEM 3.0 or a Net Billing Tariff, began in 2023 and generally lowers export credit values for new solar-only systems. Many homeowners now pair solar with a battery to strengthen the economics and add resilience. CPA outlines how credits and true-ups work, and how storage can fit into your plan, on its solar information page.

What buyers value in Claremont

The strongest evidence of premiums comes from tangible, documented upgrades at the property.

• Owned solar has shown measurable premiums. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s multi-state analysis found buyers paid on the order of dollars per watt, about 4 dollars per watt on average in the sample, roughly 15,000 dollars for a typical system of that period. See LBNL’s report, Selling into the Sun.
• Energy efficiency is capitalized into prices. A Journal of Urban Economics study found a 10 percent increase in measured energy efficiency is associated with about a 2.2 percent increase in value. Read the study on energy efficiency capitalization.

Community-wide 100% Green Power can be a positive signal for climate-minded buyers, but premiums are most robust for house-level assets that lower operating costs and are well documented. National surveys also show growing buyer interest in sustainability features, which can help listings stand out when those features are clear and verified. See NAR’s overview of sustainability trends.

How to market a green-forward home

Sellers in Claremont can make efficiency benefits easy to see and trust.

• Gather documentation: solar ownership proof, interconnection date, inverter model, and any battery details.
• Note NEM status: legacy vs new tariff, true-up month, and recent annual credits or bills.
• Include 12 months of SCE plus CPA bills to show typical usage and costs.
• Highlight upgrades: insulation, HVAC, windows, smart thermostats, EV charging, and appliance efficiency.
• Use MLS green fields and provide a simple features sheet that summarizes energy-related benefits.

A clear package helps buyers understand the home’s operating costs and value. It can also speed due diligence and reduce renegotiations.

Smart steps for buyers comparing homes

When you tour homes in Claremont, ask a few focused questions.

• What CPA tier is the current account on, and what are the typical monthly bills over the last year?
• Is the solar system owned, leased, or PPA, and what is the interconnection date and tariff status?
• Is there a battery, and how is it configured for time-of-use rates and backup?
• Are there recent efficiency improvements, and are warranties and permits available?
• For planned upgrades, confirm incentives and credits. The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit has been described by the Congressional Research Service as a long multi-year credit, subject to statutory schedules. Review the CRS overview and consult your tax professional: Residential Clean Energy Credit summary.

Programs and incentives to watch

CPA periodically offers customer programs for solar, storage, EV smart charging, and demand response, and it describes solar billing details here: CPA solar overview. Program availability and amounts change over time. You can also ask about California’s battery incentives and local rebates that may stack with federal credits.

Bottom line for Claremont

Claremont’s 100% Green Power default is designed to reduce emissions with a modest average bill impact. Buyers tend to reward owned solar, storage, and well-documented efficiency because these features lower operating costs. If you are selling, organize your documentation and tell a clear story about your home’s energy profile. If you are buying, compare bills, confirm solar ownership and tariff status, and factor incentives into your plan.

Ready to position your home’s green features the right way or to shop with confidence in Claremont? Reach out to Lisa Warshaw Sheasby for a tailored strategy and a concierge experience from prep to closing.

FAQs

Will 100% Green Power raise my Claremont bill?

• City and CPA materials projected about a 2 to 3 percent typical increase, often described as roughly 3 to 5 dollars per month, with actual costs varying by usage and rate changes; see the city’s summary of the program here.

How do CPA and SCE work together on my bill?

• CPA supplies your electricity and sets generation charges, while SCE delivers power, maintains the grid, reads your meter, and sends the bill with both charges displayed; see CPA’s FAQs.

How does 100% Green Power affect homes with solar?

• CPA handles generation-side credits under its Solar Billing Plan and uses an April true-up; legacy NEM customers keep their grandfathered terms while new systems follow the newer tariff that often favors pairing solar with a battery; details are on CPA’s solar page.

Do buyers pay more for owned solar and efficiency?

• Yes, evidence shows buyers often pay premiums for owned solar and documented efficiency improvements, with LBNL and peer-reviewed research finding measurable effects; see LBNL’s Selling into the Sun and the Journal of Urban Economics study.

Where can I verify incentives and credits?

• Check CPA’s program pages for current offerings and review the Congressional Research Service overview of the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit, then consult a tax professional for eligibility; see the CRS summary here.