OCPA Brings Renewable Energy Choices to Orange County Communities At-Cost or for Pennies on the Dollar

FACT: Energy choice benefits local communities and future generations.

Before OCPA, businesses and residential customers did not have the choice of a community energy provider. OCPA gives local communities the power to make choices about renewable energy content, allowing us to create a more sustainable future for our children and grandchildren.

FACT: Customers are automatically enrolled in Orange County Power Authority due to State Law (AB 117).

Historically, investor-owned utilities such as Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric have been the default electricity service provider to customers in their jurisdictions. However, in 2002, when state legislators passed California’s Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) law (AB 117), this default status was transferred from the investor-owned utility to the local community choice energy agency when available. The CCA model enables communities to purchase their own electricity and use excess revenues for local community investment. The original CCA legislation, seeing the wisdom of collective community action, mandated that the customers residing in the service area would automatically be enrolled unless they chose not to participate by opting out. Customers now have a choice between their investor-owned utility service or Orange County Power Authority service. 

FACT: You can choose OCPA’s Basic Choice plan and experience ZERO increase in your electric bill.

OCPA’s 3-choice plan puts the power back into the hands of consumers. Customers can choose from OCPA Basic Choice, equal in cost to SCE, Smart Choice, which provides at least 69% renewable energy, or 100% renewable energy. Basic Choice offers consumers at least 38% renewable energy for the exact same cost of their current SCE plan.

FACT: Customers can request to opt out of OCPA at any time.

FACT: You can request to opt-between Basic Choice, Smart Choice, and 100% Renewable Choice at any time.

Yes—you can request to “opt between” Basic Choice, Smart Choice, and 100% Renewable Choice at any time. And if you want to switch back again, just call and let us know or visit our website and make the change there.

If you are a business or resident in the Cities of Buena Park, Huntington Beach or Irvine, your plan is 100% Renewable Choice at enrollment. If you are a business or resident in the City of Fullerton, your plan is the 69% Smart Choice at time of your enrollment. 

You have the option to opt down to Basic Choice or Smart Choice, if desired, or you can always opt up to the 100% Renewable Choice plan. 

FACT: OCPA does not charge a fee to customers who choose to opt out and return to SCE.

FACT:  OCPA is a locally run not-for-profit public agency, and SCE is investor-owned.

As a locally run not-for-profit public agency, OCPA is committed to providing cleaner, renewable electricity choices at competitive rates, and investing in innovative programs that benefit residents, businesses, the environment, and the economy in our communities. When customers enroll with OCPA, they help empower local control of electricity procurement decisions, reduce the carbon footprint associated with their electricity service, and help support the growth of local renewable projects.

FACT: Grid reliability is not impacted by OCPA service.

The reliability of the grid will remain the same, and the dispersion of energy happens independent of any source of energy. The amount of energy sent out by the grid is fully maintained by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). If you experience a service outage, you will continue to report any occurrence to SCE.

About Orange County Power Authority

The Orange County Power Authority is a not-for-profit public agency that offers clean power at competitive rates, significantly reducing energy-related greenhouse emissions and enabling reinvestment in local energy programs. To learn more, visit www.ocpower.org.