Evaluate whether this renewable power supplier fits your home with our comprehensive CleanChoice Energy reviews and analysis.
Key Takeaways
- CleanChoice Energy is a retail energy supplier that purchases Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and develops solar farms to offset your household’s grid usage with 100% green power.
- Customers should beware of variable-rate plans, as electricity prices can spike significantly after your initial 12-month introductory period ends.
- In the event of a power outage, you must contact your local utility company, as CleanChoice Energy does not maintain the physical power grid.
If you’re shopping for a new electricity provider and want to shrink your carbon footprint, you’ve likely spotted CleanChoice Energy in your mailbox or online. Promising 100% renewable power without the hassle of installing expensive rooftop solar panels, it sounds like a dream solution for eco-conscious renters and homeowners alike. However, before you sign a contract or respond to a promotional mailer, it’s crucial to understand how third-party retail energy suppliers actually work. In this guide, we’ll break down historical CleanChoice Energy rates, compare their retail electricity and community solar programs, investigate authentic customer complaints, and help you decide if the environmental perks justify the cost.
What Is CleanChoice Energy?
Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., CleanChoice Energy is a clean energy supplier — also known as an Energy Service Company (ESCO). Navigating deregulated energy markets can feel overwhelming when you’re setting up a new home, but the distinction between a supplier and a utility is straightforward. Unlike a traditional utility company that owns the power lines, poles, and transformers delivering electricity to your neighborhood, CleanChoice acts as a third-party retail supplier.
When you enroll in a retail plan, they purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) on your behalf. Since it’s impossible to route specific electrons from a wind turbine directly to your living room outlets, RECs act as a verified accounting system. This guarantees that an amount of electricity equal to your household usage is generated from regional wind and solar farms and fed back into the power grid, actively displacing fossil fuel reliance.
Beyond purchasing RECs, the company develops and operates CleanChoice Energy community solar projects and utility-scale solar arrays, allowing customers to support local clean energy generation without needing to own a roof. While your local utility company still handles the physical delivery of your power and sends your monthly bill, CleanChoice manages the supply side of the equation.
Pros and Cons of CleanChoice Energy
Weighing a provider’s strengths and weaknesses at a glance can save you plenty of financial headaches down the road. If you’re considering switching your home to green power, here’s a quick breakdown of the primary benefits and drawbacks of using this supplier.
| Pros of CleanChoice Energy | Cons of CleanChoice Energy |
|---|---|
| Sourced from 100% renewable energy farms (regional wind and solar) | Rates can spike heavily after introductory promotional periods expire |
| No early termination fees, credit checks, or upfront deposits for residential users | Frequent complaints regarding aggressive direct mail and telemarketing tactics |
| Zero need to install or maintain personal rooftop solar panels | You must manually monitor contract expiration dates to avoid bill shock |
| Certified B-Corporation with utility-scale solar farms in development | Not available nationwide; restricted to select deregulated markets |
CleanChoice Energy Plans and Pricing
When evaluating CleanChoice Energy rates, it’s vital to understand how their contract structures work and where their pricing sits compared to the broader market. Across its service territories, CleanChoice Energy’s average historical retail rate sits around 19.71 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). However, introductory fixed-rate offers vary widely depending on your local utility market, typically ranging from 11.2 cents to over 22.0 cents per kWh.
Most new customers enroll through the flagship Clean Pick Plan, which is a standard 12-month fixed-rate option that automatically transitions into a month-to-month variable rate upon expiration. Whether you lock in a promotional rate or float with the market will heavily dictate your monthly electricity bill.
- Fixed-Rate Plans: Plans like the Clean Pick Plan lock in a consistent per-kWh electricity supply rate for a set period, typically 12 months (though six- to 24-month terms occasionally appear depending on your zip code). We strongly recommend opting for a fixed rate, as it provides vital price stability and protects your household budget against winter and summer wholesale energy spikes.
- Variable-Rate Plans: With these contracts, your supply rate changes every month based on wholesale energy market conditions and CleanChoice’s pricing discretion. While they offer flexibility without a long-term commitment, variable rates frequently climb above 20 cents per kWh. Countless consumers report severe bill increases once an introductory promotional rate expires and automatically rolls into a variable structure.
🚩 Heads Up: CleanChoice Energy utilizes automatic contract renewals. If you fail to act before your 12-month fixed-rate promotional contract ends, your account will automatically transition to an uncapped variable-rate plan. Mark your calendar to review your renewal notice roughly 30 to 45 days before the expiration date to avoid steep rate hikes.
Before enrolling in any available CleanChoice Energy plans, always read the contract disclosure statement carefully to confirm your exact cent-per-kWh rate, term length, and renewal protocol. Staying proactive is the secret to keeping your green power bill affordable.
CleanChoice Energy Community Solar vs. Retail Clean Electricity
Many shoppers don’t realize that CleanChoice Energy actually offers two distinct products: retail clean electricity and community solar subscriptions. While both serve as an eco-conscious alternative to fossil fuel power, they work very differently on your monthly utility statement and aren’t available in the same states.
With retail electricity, you’re choosing CleanChoice as your energy supplier to match 100% of your power usage with regional wind and solar RECs. In contrast, CleanChoice Energy community solar lets you subscribe to a real share of a local solar array. As that local farm generates electricity for the grid, you earn direct solar bill credits on your regular utility statement — often trimming your total electricity costs by 5% to 10% without changing your underlying power supplier.
| Feature | Clean Energy Option (Retail Supply) | CleanChoice Community Solar |
|---|---|---|
| How It Works | Matches 100% of your home’s electricity usage with regional wind and solar RECs | Subscribes you to a direct share of a local solar farm feeding power into your regional grid |
| Available Markets | 10 deregulated states (DE, IL, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI) plus Washington, D.C. | Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. |
| Partner Utilities | Major electric utilities across the Northeast and Midwest (such as ConEd, ComEd, and PECO) | Xcel Energy (MN), Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE), and PEPCO |
| Contract Structure | 12-month fixed-rate intro plan (Clean Pick) or month-to-month variable agreement | Long-term subscription allocation with $0 cancellation fees if you move |
| Bill Impact | Replaces your utility’s default supply rate; often carries a slight green premium | Generates direct solar credits on your utility bill, typically lowering costs by 5% to 10% |
🌱 Eco Edge: If you live in Minnesota, Maryland, or Washington, D.C., subscribing to a community solar farm is one of the easiest ways to lock in a guaranteed 5% to 10% savings on your electric bill while directly funding local solar infrastructure.
CleanChoice Energy Locations and Coverage Area
If you’re wondering whether this provider serves your neighborhood, CleanChoice Energy locations currently span 11 states plus Washington, D.C. Following recent New England expansions into Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, the company now offers retail clean electricity in 10 deregulated states and D.C., alongside its dedicated community solar program in Minnesota. Because they operate strictly as a supplier in retail markets, they partner seamlessly with established local utility companies — such as National Grid, Con Edison (ConEd), and Penelec. This ensures you keep your existing grid infrastructure while supporting 100% renewable power.
| State | Partner Utilities | Major Cities Covered | Average Intro Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Delmarva Power & Light | Wilmington, Dover, Newark | 6–12 months |
| Illinois | Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) | Chicago, Aurora, Rockford | 6–12 months |
| Maine | Central Maine Power, Versant Power | Portland, Lewiston, Bangor | 6–12 months |
| Maryland | Baltimore Gas & Electric, Delmarva Power & Light, Potomac Edison, SMECO, PEPCO | Baltimore, Silver Spring, Frederick | 6–12 months |
| Massachusetts | Eversource, National Grid, Unitil Energy | Boston, Worcester, Springfield | 6–12 months |
| New Hampshire | Eversource, Liberty Utilities, New Hampshire Electric Co-op, Unitil Energy | Manchester, Nashua, Concord | 6–12 months |
| New Jersey | Atlantic City Electric, Jersey Central Power & Light, PSE&G | Newark, Jersey City, Paterson | 6–12 months |
| New York | Central Hudson, ConEd, National Grid, NYSEG, Orange & Rockland, Rochester Gas & Electric | New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, Yonkers | 6–12 months |
| Ohio | AEP Ohio, AES Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio, The Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison | Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron | 6–12 months |
| Pennsylvania | Duquesne Light, Met-Ed, PECO Energy, Penelec, Penn Power, PPL, West Penn Power | Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Scranton | 6–12 months |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Energy | Providence, Warwick, Cranston | 6–12 months |
| Washington, D.C. | PEPCO | Washington, D.C. | 6–12 months |
If you reside in any of these retail territories — or live in Xcel Energy’s Minnesota territory for community solar — you can easily select CleanChoice during your utility setup process.
Fees, Guarantees, and Ways to Save
Total transparency around fees is essential when choosing a retail energy provider. CleanChoice Energy leans heavily into accessibility, offering flexible enrollment policies alongside a few contract quirks you’ll need to watch closely so your budget stays intact.
- $0 Cancellation Fees: Residential customers enjoy the freedom to cancel or switch their plans at any time without facing early termination fees. This no-penalty policy provides great peace of mind if you move or decide the service isn’t the right fit for your household.
- $0 Upfront Deposits and No Credit Checks: Unlike traditional utilities that often pull your credit report before turning on the lights, CleanChoice requires $0 upfront security deposits and performs no credit checks to enroll in standard residential retail electricity plans.
- Variable Rate Warnings: While skipping deposits and cancellation penalties is great, you must be careful at renewal time. If you don’t actively renew or cancel your fixed-rate contract when the term ends, your account automatically defaults to a market-driven variable-rate plan, which can trigger much higher supply charges during peak winter or summer demand.
- CleanChoice Rewards: Enrolled customers earn monthly CleanChoice Points that can be redeemed for gift cards, green home perks, travel, and dining discounts across more than 500,000 retailers. However, keep in mind that New York residents are ineligible to participate in CleanChoice Rewards upon enrollment due to strict state ESCO regulations.
How to Compare CleanChoice Rates Against Your Local Utility
Before responding to a promotional mailer or locking in a contract online, take five minutes to run an “apples-to-apples” rate comparison. Following these three steps will help you see exactly how much extra you might pay — or save — by switching to 100% renewable electricity:
- Locate Your Utility’s “Price to Compare” (PTC): Pull up a recent electric bill and find your local utility’s default supply rate, usually labeled as the Price to Compare. Be sure to exclude delivery, distribution, and local tax charges from your math, as those utility fees remain unchanged regardless of who supplies your power.
- Compare the Introductory Fixed Rate Against Your PTC: Stack CleanChoice’s introductory fixed cent-per-kWh rate directly against your utility’s PTC. For example, if your utility’s PTC is 10.5 cents per kWh and CleanChoice offers a 12-month fixed rate at 13.5 cents per kWh, you’ll pay an extra 3 cents per kWh (or $30 per month for a home using 1,000 kWh) to support 100% green power.
- Verify Contract Terms on Your State’s Official Portal: Cross-check the offer on your state’s public utility comparison website — such as PA Power Switch, Energy Choice Ohio, or Energize CT — to verify the contract length and confirm there are no hidden monthly recurring charges (MRCs).
Sustainability and Green Energy Initiatives
CleanChoice Energy sources electricity exclusively from certified 100% renewable wind and solar farms, keeping carbon-heavy coal, oil, and natural gas completely out of your supply mix. To meet its environmental commitments, the company relies on two renewable power pillars:
- Wind Power: CleanChoice acquires RECs from utility-scale wind farms across the United States, harnessing the kinetic energy of regional wind corridors.
- Solar Power: Regional solar arrays capture photovoltaic energy directly from the sun, providing clean daytime power without generating greenhouse gases.
As a core part of its evolution, the company has transitioned from merely buying and reselling RECs to operating as a vertically integrated, “farm-to-table” clean energy generator. A flagship example is the 168-acre Blairs Valley Solar Farm in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Interconnected directly to the PJM regional grid and equipped with over 20,000 bifacial solar panels and sun-tracking technology, this 26.15-megawatt facility generates enough clean electricity to power roughly 4,500 homes.
Beyond generating an environmentally mindful choice for household power, CleanChoice continues to expand its active solar construction pipeline and regional wind partnerships across the East Coast:
- Kylertown Solar Farm: A utility-scale solar development project located in Central Pennsylvania.
- Dolan & Hawthorn Solar Farms: Dual clean energy generation arrays expanding grid capacity across Upstate New York.
- Sweetleaf & Sumac Solar Farms: Large-scale photovoltaic installations in Eastern North Carolina.
- Hardscrabble Wind Farm Spotlight: A major REC partnership with this 37-turbine, 74-megawatt wind project in Herkimer County, New York, which supplies clean power credits to Northeast households.
These generation projects also prioritize local ecological stewardship. At its solar sites, CleanChoice partners with regional conservationists to cultivate pollinator-friendly habitats beneath the panels and installs wildlife-permeable fencing so native animals can safely navigate the land. Initiatives like these allow everyday apartment renters and homeowners to directly fund new renewable infrastructure without needing the capital to install private solar panels.
CleanChoice Energy Reviews and Complaints: What Are Customers Saying?
If you browse CleanChoice Energy reviews online, you’ll immediately notice a divided landscape. While many verified customers praise the fast digital onboarding, others express frustration over post-promotional pricing and persistent marketing. Reviewing both sides of the coin can help you decide if this supplier matches your tolerance for account upkeep.
Here is a look at what consumers and regulatory scorecards highlight most often:
- Strong BBB & Trustpilot Ratings: CleanChoice Energy maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) by actively resolving billing disputes, alongside a 4+ star average across more than 450 verified customer reviews on Trustpilot. Satisfied reviewers frequently praise the effortless two-minute online sign-up process.
- Frustration Over Variable-Rate Spikes: On state Public Utility Commission (PUC) scorecards — such as PA Power Switch and Ohio Energy Choice — as well as community forums, the majority of CleanChoice Energy complaints center on pricing. When a customer’s 12-month introductory fixed rate expires and rolls into an uncapped variable rate, monthly supply charges can easily double if the homeowner misses the renewal notice.
- Direct Mail & Telemarketing Burnout: Many consumers report annoyance with frequent direct mailers and aggressive telemarketing calls. In particular, Reddit users in Pennsylvania and Ohio have shared accounts of third-party outbound sales representatives making confusing claims about expiring utility discounts or urgent account rebates to encourage sign-ups.
On the positive side, eco-minded customers love how simple it is to transition an apartment or rental home to 100% clean power. Enrollees also enjoy receiving personalized Environmental Impact Reports that translate their household kWh usage into tangible carbon emission offsets and equivalent trees planted. If you stay on top of your contract expiration dates, the service delivers exactly what it promises.
CleanChoice Energy Customer Service and Contact Information
If you need to contact CleanChoice Energy customer service to lock in a new fixed rate, ask a billing question, or process a cancellation, you can reach their support staff Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST. For the fastest service, keep your local utility account number handy before dialing.
- Primary Customer Service Line: 1-800-218-0113
- Alternate Support Phone Number: 1-888-444-9452
- Customer Support Email: [email protected]
- Mailing Address: 1055 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20007
Please note that CleanChoice Energy does not offer a mobile app for smartphones. All account management, reward redemptions, and plan updates must be handled through their web portal or over the phone with a customer support representative.
How to Report an Outage With CleanChoice Energy
If a storm knocks out the power in your neighborhood, remember that CleanChoice Energy does not handle power outages or physical grid repairs. Because they operate strictly as a retail electricity supplier or community solar operator, they do not own or maintain the power lines, utility poles, or street transformers serving your home.
During a blackout or downed-wire emergency, you must contact your local utility company directly to report the outage. Check the top of your monthly electric bill to locate your delivery utility (such as ConEd, ComEd, Eversource, or PECO) and call their 24/7 emergency outage hotline.
Determining Who CleanChoice Energy Is Best For
Deciding whether to switch energy suppliers comes down to your household budget, sustainability goals, and willingness to track contract dates. Finding the right balance between environmental impact and monthly cost requires a realistic look at how you manage your household bills. Here is a quick breakdown to help you decide if CleanChoice fits your lifestyle:
Best For:
- Renters and apartment dwellers who want an energy-saving option or renewable alternative without installing rooftop solar panels.
- Community solar shoppers in MN, MD, and D.C. who want to earn direct solar bill credits and trim their utility bills by 5% to 10%.
- Proactive household managers who track their contract expiration dates and won’t forget to renew or cancel a fixed-rate plan before it rolls into a variable tier.
Who Should Avoid It:
- Strict budget-shoppers looking for the absolute lowest cent-per-kWh electricity supply rate on the local market.
- Set-it-and-forget-it homeowners who put their bills on autopay and don’t want to monitor 12-month contract renewal windows.
Deciding to Switch to CleanChoice Energy
CleanChoice Energy is a legitimate, certified B-Corporation dedicated to expanding renewable wind and solar power across the United States. If you’re passionate about shrinking your household carbon footprint and want a frictionless entry point into green power, their retail plans and community solar subscriptions offer a practical pathway. Plus, with $0 cancellation fees, no credit checks, and no upfront deposits, testing their service is virtually risk-free for new movers and apartment renters.
That said, we don’t recommend their retail electricity plans if you tend to ignore calendar reminders or rarely inspect your monthly utility statements. Because their 12-month Clean Pick Plan automatically rolls into an uncapped variable rate upon expiration, hands-off customers can easily get caught off guard by steep winter or summer rate hikes. If you decide to enroll, always compare their introductory fixed rate against your local utility’s Price to Compare first, and set a reminder one month before your contract ends to either lock in a fresh fixed rate or switch back to your utility’s default supply.
Frequently Asked Questions About CleanChoice Energy
Is CleanChoice Energy a scam?
No, it is not a scam. CleanChoice Energy is a fully legitimate retail energy supplier, community solar provider, and certified B-Corporation. However, they frequently receive scam accusations online due to aggressive marketing mailers, third-party telemarketing calls, and variable-rate plans that can drastically increase your supply costs once your introductory promotional period ends.
Does CleanChoice Energy require a credit check or deposit?
No, CleanChoice Energy does not require a credit check or an upfront security deposit to enroll in their residential retail electricity plans.
How long does it take to switch to CleanChoice Energy?
While online enrollment takes less than two minutes using your existing utility account number, the physical billing switch takes one to two billing cycles to appear on your statement depending on your local utility’s meter read schedule.
What is the difference between CleanChoice Energy and my local utility company?
Your local utility company owns the physical grid, maintains the poles and wires, responds to power outages, and sends your monthly bill. CleanChoice Energy acts solely as the third-party supply company that replenishes your household electricity usage with 100% renewable wind and solar energy on the regional grid.
How do I cancel CleanChoice Energy?
You can cancel CleanChoice Energy at any time by calling the CleanChoice Energy customer service team directly at 1-800-218-0113. For residential customers, there are $0 early termination fees or cancellation penalties, making it easy to switch back to your default utility provider or choose another supplier.
Why did my CleanChoice Energy bill go up so much?
If your monthly bill suddenly spiked, your initial 12-month fixed-rate contract likely expired, causing your account to automatically default to a month-to-month variable-rate plan. Variable rates fluctuate with the wholesale energy market and are often significantly higher than promotional introductory rates.
Does CleanChoice Energy have a mobile app?
No, CleanChoice Energy does not offer a dedicated mobile app for smartphones. To review your account, redeem CleanChoice Rewards points, or manage your contract terms, you must log in through their web portal using a desktop or mobile browser.
About the Author
LaLeesha has a Masters degree in English and enjoys writing whenever she has the chance. She is passionate about gardening, reducing her carbon footprint, and protecting the environment. She also recently served as President of the Board for City Sprouts (a community garden).