Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the difference between OCPA and my current energy provider?

  You now have the power to choose your energy provider. Historically, Southern California Edison (SCE) has been the only power provider available to customers in Fountain Valley. But in 2002, California passed the Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) law that allowed cities and counties to procure electricity for customers in their respective areas. Now local governments can offer their communities an option for their electricity generation – one that provides renewable energy!

  CCAs only work on energy generation, the for-profit utilities still transmit and deliver electricity to customers using their infrastructure.

  OCPA is a not-for-profit community clean energy provider founded in 2021 that currently serves Buena Park, Fullerton and Irvine. OCPA offers three renewable energy plans at competitive rates, allowing its customers to choose how much renewable energy they want OCPA to purchase on their behalf, contributing to more renewable energy being put onto the grid at a faster rate than from traditional electricity providers.

• When will energy customers in Fountain Valley be transitioned to OCPA?

  Fountain Valley will transition to OCPA in October 2026.

• What does the transition process look like?

  You will receive two notifications in the 60-day period ahead of the transition to OCPA. Residents and businesses will be automatically opted-in to OCPA when the transition occurs. The process is completely seamless, and you will not notice any change to your electricity service.

  Additionally, you will receive two more notices in the 60-day period after the transition confirming that OCPA is the default energy provider set by the City Council, and information on our three renewable energy plans.

  Rest assured, you can change your OCPA plan or return to SCE at any time.

• What happens after OCPA becomes the default energy provider?

  SCE will continue to send monthly electricity bills, and provide the transmission and delivery of electricity while maintaining the electrical grid. OCPA will appear on customer bills as a separate line item for “Generation”, which was previously included in SCE’s bundled cost to customers.

  In an emergency or power outage, customers should call SCE.

• How much clean and renewable energy is available through OCPA?

  OCPA offers three plans with different levels of renewable energy so customers can choose the one that feels right for them.

  Fountain Valley residents will be enrolled in Basic Choice, which costs 3% less than SCE’s equivalent generation rate. Customers can opt-up to Smart Choice to receive more renewable and carbon-free energy, or 100% Renewable to purchase all renewable energy. All OCPA plans offer more renewable and carbon-free energy than the investor-owned utility.

• What type of renewable energy is OCPA purchasing?

  OCPA purchases a diverse portfolio of solar, wind, geothermal and biomass renewable energy.

• Can I choose my renewable energy plan?

  Yes! All customers have a choice in how much renewable energy they want procured on their behalf. The City of Fountain Valley has selected Basic Choice as the default plan, and you can choose to stay in that plan or make a change to enroll in one of other OCPA Plans:

  • Basic Choice, which costs 3% less than SCE’s equivalent generation rate;
  • Smart Choice which offers more renewable energy and is $0.01 more per kWh than Basic Choice; and
  • 100% Renewable, this plan is $0.015 more per kWh than our Basic Plan.