OC’s first Community Choice Energy Program is Thriving, but City of Irvine Decision Looms

May 1, 2025

by Ayn Craciun

OCPA System of Power Delivery

 

The Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) launched in 2020 with big goals: to provide cleaner, locally controlled energy to cities like Irvine, Huntington Beach, Fullerton, and Buena Park. Early on, the agency faced challenges — including transparency concerns, and criticism over its rollout and communication. But since then, OCPA has made major improvements. With new leadership, stronger oversight, and renewed commitment to public trust, the agency is now thriving — expanding clean energy offerings and adhering to well-established best practices to restore confidence and help Orange County cities take real climate action.

​Sierra Club California has been a vocal supporter of Community Choice Energy (CCE) programs across the state, and Sierra Sage of South Orange County supports them locally. They view CCE as a powerful tool for accelerating the clean energy transition, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and giving communities local control over their energy choices.​

Unfortunately, some elected officials at the city of Irvine continue to spread misinformation about instability and lack of transparency at the agency, voting last December to draft a letter of withdrawal from the agency and to authorize the city manager to send the letter at his discretion at any time in 2025. The letter has not yet been sent, but it is important to continue to send Irvine the message that the city should stay in OCPA. Click here to email the council (please customize your message with the personal reasons you support clean energy and climate action).   

​​What is Community Choice Energy?

Community Choice Energy, also called Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), is a local program that lets cities buy cleaner, renewable electricity for their residents and businesses — often at competitive or even lower rates than the utility. Southern California Edison or SDG&E still delivers the electricity and maintains the power lines.

Why it matters:

  • OCPA gives your city more control over energy decisions
  • OCPA offers cleaner energy options like wind and solar
  • OCPA supports local jobs and reinvests in the community
  • OCPA provides consumer choice — you can opt out anytime

     

The Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) is now serving the cities of Irvine, Fullerton, and Buena Park with cleaner, greener power, and ispreparing to serve the city of Fountain Valley next year.