Nearly one million Southern California Edison customers have been opted into something called the Clean Power Alliance, agovernment entity that can buy power directly on the open energy market and ship it to consumers on existing Edison power lines.

The start-up agency has elbowed its way onto Southern California Edison power bills in 29 cities and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

"We're offering choice, we're bringing competition," said Ted Bardacke, executive director of the Clean Power Alliance. "You've never had a choice in Southern California before on a mass scale of where to get your electricity from."

Those who have been opted by their city or county government into the Clean Power Alliance might see their bill might go up or down slightly, depending on the level selected as a starting point.

However, you're not stuck with that level. You can go online to adjust your bill to a lower rate or to tell the utility to buy a higher percentage of renewable energy on your behalf.