Clean Energy SF: San Francisco, fog then sun, est. 2026

Vol. 1 - No. 14 - Thursday, September 24, 2026 - Free to readers

Markets ยท Analysis

SuperGreen: a few cents more for all-renewable power, and where it goes

CleanPowerSF already runs greener than PG&E's default. Opting up to SuperGreen costs a small premium per kilowatt-hour, and the SFPUC says that difference helps build local clean power.

Filed October 24, 2026 By the Clean Energy SF editors Reading time: 6 minutes

I. How the opt-up shows up on your bill

Opting up is a single choice, not a new account. You call CleanPowerSF or use its website, pick SuperGreen, and nothing about your wires, your meter, or your PG&E delivery charges changes. The next billing cycle, the generation line that used to read Green reads SuperGreen, and the rate per kilowatt-hour on that line is a little higher. PG&E still prints and mails the statement, because the city buys the power but PG&E runs the poles.

The premium is the gap between the two generation rates, not a flat fee. That matters for a foggy, low-use city like this one. A top-floor flat in the Outer Sunset that rarely needs heat or cooling draws far fewer kilowatt-hours than a full Victorian in Noe Valley with a heat pump, so the same per-unit premium adds up to very different dollars. You pay more only on the power you actually use.

II. Doing the honest math

At last public report, the SuperGreen premium has run on the order of a penny or so more per kilowatt-hour above the Green tier, though the exact figure is set in CleanPowerSF's rate schedule and changes at least once a year. San Francisco homes tend to use less electricity than the state average, often a few hundred kilowatt-hours a month, because the climate is mild and few homes run air conditioning. Put those together and the opt-up usually lands in the low single digits of dollars a month for a typical home.

Those are rough edges, not promises. If you heat with electricity, charge a car, or run a small storefront, your usage climbs and so does the premium. The only way to get your number is to take your own monthly kilowatt-hours off a recent statement and multiply by the current premium from the rate schedule. We would rather you check that than trust a round figure from this desk.

III. Where the extra money is supposed to go

The SFPUC's pitch is that SuperGreen revenue does more than buy renewable energy certificates, the tradable proof that a unit of clean power was generated somewhere on the grid. The agency says the premium helps fund local clean power build-out, the kind of San Francisco solar and storage that is hard to pay for on the default rate alone. Hetch Hetchy Power, the city's own hydroelectric supply from the Sierra, already carries much of the municipal load, so the residential premium is aimed at the next layer of local projects.

Honesty requires a caveat. How much of any given premium becomes a new rooftop array on a Mission District roof, versus a certificate purchased on the market, is not something a customer can read off a bill, and the mix can shift year to year. The public record to watch is the SFPUC's own rate filings and program reports, where enrollment counts and renewable content are laid out. If the local build-out story matters to you, that paper trail is where it holds up or it does not.

IV. Worth watching this month

1. CleanPowerSF's current rate schedule, where the SuperGreen premium per kilowatt-hour is published and updated at least yearly, is the first thing to check before you opt up.

2. The California Energy Commission's annual Power Content Label, which backs the 100 percent renewable claim, is a routine filing but the clearest public proof of what you are buying.

3. SFPUC commission meeting agendas, where rate changes and CleanPowerSF program updates are heard, are worth a scan if you want to catch a premium change before it reaches your bill.

4. Your own next PG&E statement, specifically the generation line, tells you for free which tier you are on today, which matters because many residents were enrolled automatically and never chose.

5. The CPUC's community choice aggregation pages are the slower, bigger-picture watch, useful if you want to see how San Francisco's setup fits California's rules.

Frequently asked questions

Am I already a CleanPowerSF customer?

Most San Francisco accounts were enrolled automatically when the city launched its program. Look for a CleanPowerSF generation line on your PG&E statement. You can opt back to PG&E generation if you prefer.

How much more does SuperGreen actually cost?

At last public report, roughly a penny or so more per kilowatt-hour than the default Green tier. For a typical low-use San Francisco home, that tends to land in the low single digits of dollars a month. Check the current rate schedule for the exact figure.

Is SuperGreen really 100 percent renewable?

The SFPUC sells it as 100 percent California renewable, and the state's Power Content Label is the public document that backs that claim. Renewable here means wind, solar, geothermal and similar sources, as defined by California's program.

Does opting up change who fixes my power in an outage?

No. PG&E still owns and maintains the wires and poles and handles outages. CleanPowerSF only changes where your generation is bought.

Can I switch back if I change my mind?

Yes, you can move between tiers or back to PG&E generation. There may be timing rules on when a change takes effect, so check with CleanPowerSF before you count on a specific billing date.

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