Sacramento, California: commercial energy account guide

Local service context

A Sacramento restaurant should separate SMUD electric operations from gas cooking and water heating before seeking account-specific guidance. A restaurant's electric and gas needs should be reviewed separately. Refrigeration continues after dining service ends, while ventilation, cooking and dishwashing can cluster during preparation and cleanup. Identify those operating periods before evaluating fixed charges, volume conditions and a contract based on an assumed load shape.

Apply the California eligibility rules

California does not provide unrestricted retail electric supplier choice. Nonresidential Direct Access participation is capped and subject to enrollment procedures. Community Choice Aggregation and utility service are different arrangements. Confirm the account’s present service and eligibility before soliciting Direct Access offers.

Gas transportation and supplier options depend on the gas utility, customer category and tariff. Verify service conditions and balancing responsibilities rather than extending an electric Direct Access assumption to gas.

Account checks before requesting offers

For this Sacramento account, resolve the service-territory and contract questions below before using a price comparison. The current invoice, exact address and account class provide the starting evidence.

• List refrigeration, cooking, ventilation and water-heating fuels with their relevant meter accounts.
• Include closed days and seasonal hours when comparing recurring supplier charges against annual consumption.
• Confirm the exact service address, current bill and legal account holder before using a Sacramento comparison; city boundaries and utility boundaries need not coincide.