OCPA purchases energy from clean, renewable sources including solar, wind, geothermal and biomass. Through our energy procurement process, we diligently research and monitor our suppliers to ensure they are adhering to green, responsible practices.

86% clean power from 81% carbon-free resources

OCPA delivered approximately 86% clean power from 81% carbon-free resources across its 2023 portfolio. This is well above the mandatory state requirements for the purchase of renewable energy and the state’s three largest investor-owned utilities, which collectively served 52% renewable power in their 2022 retail electricity sales.

How California Energy Providers Stack Up

What percentage of renewable energy are energy providers purchasing?

Renewable Energy Portfolio

The energy mixes represented above are based on purchases made in 2023

OCPA also produces an annual Supplier Diversity Report, in accordance with the California Public Utilities Commission’s General Order 156, documenting contracts with minority-owned, women-owned, disabled veteran-owned and/or LGBTQ-owned businesses, which includes energy providers.
View Diversity Report

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)?

    RECs are certificates of proof associated with the generation of electricity from eligible renewable energy producers in compliance with California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS).

  • What does it mean is a REC is unbundled?

    Unbundled RECs are sold, delivered, or purchased separately from electricity, making them flexible and cost-effective. They are not tied to an underlying power purchase agreement (PPA) and can come from either a single renewable source or a mix of sources.

  • How do they work?

    RECs are commodities that represent proof that 1 MWh of electricity was generated from a renewable energy resource (wind, solar, hydroelectric, etc.) and was then fed into the grid.

  • How does OCPA use unbundled RECs?

    Unbundled RECs are a flexible, cost-effective way of procuring renewable energy. OCPA’s 2023 Power Source Disclosure (PSD) report shows the following for unbundled Renewable Energy Credits (RECs):

    • 100% Renewable Choice: 0% unbundled RECs
    • Smart Choice: 11% unbundled RECs to total 69% renewable energy
    • Basic Choice: 28.9% unbundled RECs to total 39% renewable energy

    In total, OCPA’s combined portfolio had 5.9% unbundled RECs, due to the high percentage (68.8%) of total retail electricity sales from the 100% Renewable Choice plan.

    • Of the 5.9%, only 3% are purchased RECs. The remaining 2.9% were unbundled volumes allocated through agreements with SCE and SDG&E.
  • Does OCPA’s renewable energy portfolio reduce carbon emissions?

    Yes! The amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced through OCPA’s renewable energy procurement is a game-changer. 81% of the energy in OCPA’s aggregate portfolio comes from carbon-free resources.

  • How much of a difference is OCPA really making?

    OCPA is making an enormous difference in the fight against climate change. Since beginning service, OCPA has reduced over 2 billion lbs. of CO2 emissions through renewable energy procurement – that’s like removing over 221,000 gas-powered vehicles off the road!

  • Does OCPA really save me money?

    Affordability is central to OCPA’s mission of providing the choice of cleaner energy at competitive rates. Since beginning service in 2022, OCPA has saved Basic Choice customers over $2.5 million.

    • In total, we’ve saved all our customers – Basic Choice, Smart Choice, and 100% Renewable Energy – over $14.59 million.