ICNV Staff

All Irvine Businesses Will Be Enrolled in the OCPA on April 1st

On April 1st, all businesses operating in the City of Irvine will be transferred from their current provider of electricity, Southern California Edison (SCE), and enrolled in the new Orange County Power Authority (OCPA).

Irvine businesses will automatically be enrolled at the 100% renewable rate. (Irvine residential customers will be transferred over to OCPA in October, also at the 100% renewable rate.)

According to a recent article in the Voice of OC, the Power Authority originally promised cities that joined OCPA that customers of electricity would be receiving cleaner energy at less expensive rates than SCE. The article referenced a City of Fullerton staff report from November 2020 that promised “the program would bring millions in savings” every year.

However, during the February 8th City Council meeting, Irvine City Manager Oliver Chi provided a presentation showing that small businesses that currently pay, on average, $200 per month for electricity will pay $13.50 more; medium-sized businesses will pay $1,350 more each month; and large commercial customers will pay an additional $6,000 per month or more.

Three Members of the Current Irvine City Council Are Running for Re-Election This Fall

Eight months before the November 2022 election, three members of the current City Council have opened campaign committees to run for re-election.

With the pandemic still on the minds of many Irvine residents, Councilmember Larry Agran chose to announce his re-election campaign through a substantive video announcement that was posted on Agran’s campaign website and on Facebook.

Agran used the video to recap his long history with the City, outline what he’s been working on, and explain why he has decided to run for re-election in November.

Forgoing a formal announcement, Councilmember Anthony Kuo appears to have quietly opened his 2022 City Council re-election campaign last fall.

Mayor Farrah Khan publicly announced her Mayoral re-election campaign late last year via social media and through an email message sent to supporters.