March 3, 2025
Q&A: Pranesh Venugopal, Orange County Power Authority Energy Programs Manager
Pranesh Venugopal joined Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) as Energy Programs Manager in November 2024, bringing with him 20 years of experience in energy efficiency, clean transportation and energy resources. Most recently, Pranesh served as a Senior Technical Program Manager at The Energy Coalition and led the design and launch of community-focused energy programs, including a novel electric carshare program in communities of concern.
Pranesh’s experience designing and implementing clean energy programs and developing strategic partnerships with public agencies and community organizations is immensely valuable as OCPA expands energy programs tailored to meet the needs of Orange County’s diverse communities.
What does an Energy Programs Manager at OCPA do?
On top of providing the option of renewable energy to customers, as a not-for-profit, we get to provide them with additional benefits in the form of programs. Programs come in many shapes and sizes, including rebates for energy efficiency appliances, incentives to lower energy usage and adopt renewable energy and electric vehicles, and broader energy education.
My job is to learn what our member communities need, what existing programs are out there, and figure out how to fill the gaps based on local priorities. What does the community really want? That’s where the Community Power Plan comes into play.
What is a Community Power Plan?
There are four parts to developing a Community Power Plan:
- Conducting a needs assessment to collect input on the wants and needs of the communities we serve,
- Determining priorities so that OCPA can strategically design and launch programs,
- Identifying gaps by researching the programs currently available to our member cities and customers, and
- Understanding what funding opportunities exist outside of OCPA, both statewide and federally.
The results of these steps provide data for a cost-benefit analysis to make recommendations for programs that OCPA could launch in the coming years, both in the short- and long-term.
Why is a Community Power Plan important?
With the wealth of energy-related programs OCPA could launch, the Community Power Plan will provide a data-based strategy and framework specific to our member cities. One of the primary objectives is to ensure equitable reach and support for underserved and hard-to-reach communities. Without a well-researched plan, there is no guarantee the programs we launch will best serve our communities. That’s why the initial research phase is so important.
What types of questions are you asking and what information are you hoping to get from the community?
OCPA put together a brief community needs assessment survey that asks what programs people are aware of, and what their biggest concerns are in hopes we can develop a program to address them. We also want to understand what is most important to our customers, with options like improving indoor air quality, saving money, and home/business electrification.
What factors make OCPA’s Community Power Plan the same or different from those of other community energy providers?
Our four-part model structure is similar to the process of other community energy providers. However, the specific programs we select here at OCPA may differ, and we are going to be particularly focused on our specific member communities. We are also fortunate here in Orange County to have a close relationship with community groups that allow us to better tap into the needs of all our diverse communities and customers.
How does your background and experience help in shaping and implementing a Community Power Plan?
I am grateful to have experience planning and implementing a range of programs, including a program specifically for a disadvantaged community in the San Gabriel Valley. It was a very comprehensive project funded by the California Energy Commission, where we looked at many different aspects, including rooftop solar panels, battery storage community solar, heat pump water heaters and other clean energy technology to meet the needs of residents and support grid reliability and safety.
I also led focus group studies looking at ways to tackle challenges and priorities with air quality, and the availability of affordable electric vehicles and chargers. That led to designing a program to expand EVs and charging, including more affordable EV rentals in exchange for help installing publicly available EV chargers. Another program was one funded by the California Air Resources Board, where a Community Transportation Needs Assessment by a local organization determined the need for carshare and feedback from city staff on community needs led to the siting of public EV chargers at City Hall.
Community feedback helped inform each of those programs, and that’s what we want to do in OCPA’s member cities.
What else is on your plate as the new Energy Programs Manager?
We just received approval to pursue a building electrification program funded by the California Energy Commission. Our role is marketing and outreach for a program offering no-cost installation of equipment that helps electrification of low- to moderate-income homes in Buena Park as one of the initial community focus areas.
Why are you passionate about working in clean energy and sustainability?
Climate change is an existential threat. Whatever I’m doing right now will be seen and experienced by my grandkids. We don’t own the world, we have borrowed it from future generations. I know it’s cliche, but it’s something I truly believe in.
And remember, anything that can save energy and address climate change can also save you money. When an appliance needs to be replaced, choose energy-efficient, Energy Star-rated models. LED lights, for example, are low-hanging fruit everyone can take advantage of and end up saving money.
To learn more about OCPA’s Community Power Plan and take the survey for a chance to win one of two $250 gift cards, visit ocpower.org/future-programs.
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.
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