Studies & Reports
This page features studies, reports, and analyses that highlight the impacts, performance, and innovation of Community Choice Aggregation nationwide.
2025 Study by LEAN Energy US and Mission:data
Community Choice Aggregation Customer Data Access:
A Cross-State Study of Utility Data Sharing Practices with CCAs
Click on the cover page to view the full report
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs are transforming U.S. energy markets. Serving 15–20 million customer accounts across eight states, CCAs allow local governments to procure cleaner electricity while utilities continue to deliver and maintain the grid. This model has accelerated renewable energy adoption, supported local economies, and expanded customer choice.
A critical enabler of CCA success is access to accurate, timely, and complete customer energy data. Our study, conducted by LEAN Energy US in partnership with Mission:data, examines data access challenges and emerging best practices for CCAs in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Ohio.
Explore the full report to learn how robust access to customer energy data can strengthen both CCA operations and the broader energy system.
Authors: Claire Dépit-Strömbäck with support from Michael Murray
Contributing Editors: Cody Hooven, Deana Dennis, Katherine Wyszkowski, Clifton Below, Chris Villarreal, Julien Gattaciecca
2025 Study by Calpine Community Energy
CCA Residential Customer Cost Savings in California
Click on the cover page to view the full report
Calpine Community Energy has been conducting a study to answer the question of if CCAs could lead on affordability in California. In order to answer this question, they used publicly available Join Rate Comparisons (JRCs) from the past decade. They exclusively focused on CCAs’ and IOUs’ cheapest rates in order to facilitate consistent and equitable comparisons.
Key findings:
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From 2014 to 2024, CCAs offered basic residential rates that were, on average, 𝟮% 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 in comparison to their incumbent IOUs cheapest rate.
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Based on this data, and if every residential CCA customer had opted for the cheapest rate, the 𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀.
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We also found that across California over the past decade, 𝗖𝗖𝗔𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗢𝗨𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀. The only exception was in 2021, where the PCIA was at its record high.
Author: Calpine Community Energy
2025 Study by Deepa Vedavyas (Harvard University) for LEAN Energy US
The 'Power' to Choose: From Monopoly to Collective 'Power'
Click on the cover page to view the full report
We are pleased to share a new report developed through our collaboration with Deepa Vedavyas (Director of Resiliency and Sustainability at NOPEC), who selected LEAN as her client for her Sustainability Project Charter at Harvard University. Serving as our consultant for several months, Deepa brought fresh perspective and rigorous research to help us strengthen our role as the national hub for Community Choice Aggregation (CCA).
This comprehensive and educational report explores the history, models, and future of community aggregation in the United States.
Energy Aggregation Basics:
An accessible resource that simplifies the complex history of energy markets, making CCA approachable for communities, elected officials, and newcomers.
Comparative Case Studies:
In-depth narratives from Massachusetts, Ohio, California, and New Hampshire, featuring insights from pioneering CCA leaders and field experts. These case studies create a rich peer-learning resource for communities nationwide.
Author: Deepa Vedavyas
2023 Study by LEAN Energy US
Community Choice Aggregation: A Cost-Effective Policy Tool that Accelerates Competitive Renewable Power Addition and Carbon Reduction at Scale
After many months of research, surveys, focus groups, and industry leader interviews, LEAN's study shows the CCA model as an efficient, equitable and cost-effective policy tool for providing competitive pricing and renewable power to a large number of electricity consumers in the United States. The study reviews state-by-state market status, national impacts, and most importantly, an analysis covering the potential of CCAs to accelerate state and national governments' environmental, social and economic goals in the energy sector.
The slide presentation from our webinar on June 28th is available to view or download HERE.
Author: Claire Dépit-Strömbäck
Contributing Editors: Alison Elliott, Mike Gordon, Paul Grover, John Kelly
Click on the cover page to view the full report
Other Relevant Studies
Institute for Local Self Reliance's 2024 Community Power Scorecard
This scorecard from ILSR's Energy Democracy Initiative surveys a suite of 18 state policies that help or hinder local clean energy action.
Berkeley Lab’s “Utility-Scale Solar, 2023 Edition”
Focused on key developments in 2022, this report explores trends in deployment, technology, capital and operating costs, capacity factors, the levelized cost of solar energy (LCOE), power purchase agreement (PPA) prices, and wholesale market value.
Green Power at Lower Cost; Green Municipal Aggregation Continues to be a Huge Success in the Bay State
Green municipal aggregation programs have cut costs for consumers in Massachusetts while lowering emissions, according to a 2023 report by the Green Energy Consumers Alliance
Institute for Local Self Reliance's study on Community Choice Energy (2020)
More information here.