ICNV Staff - Irvine Community News and Views

OCPA Charges Higher Rates for Dirtier Electricity

In 2022, Irvine electricity customers were transferred from the City’s previous provider, Southern California Edison (SCE), and automatically enrolled in the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA).

For the next few years, members of the OCPA board — including Irvine City Councilmember Kathleen Treseder, who serves as Irvine’s representative on the OCPA board — falsely told our City’s electricity customers they were paying lower monthly rates. Councilmember Treseder and others quoted the price for OCPA’s lowest-priced plan (Basic Choice) even though Irvine ratepayers had been enrolled in OCPA’s most expensive plan (100% Renewable), resulting in higher monthly rates.

In 2025, the City Council voted to change the default tier for Irvine ratepayers to OCPA’s least expensive plan, Basic Choice. However, OCPA continues to charge Irvine customers higher rates than SCE.

Irvine Receives Federal Funding for Economic Growth Initiative

The City has received $1 million in federal funding to establish the Center of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, an initiative designed to boost Irvine’s innovation economy. The funding was secured by Irvine’s Congressional Representative, Dave Min.

City officials say that the Center will connect entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and ecosystem partners; accelerate early-stage venture development; reduce barriers to innovation-driven entrepreneurship; and expand access to capital, education, and technical resources.

The goal is to create more high-wage local jobs, more career opportunities for local students, and a stronger pipeline of companies choosing to start and stay in Irvine.

Mayor Agran Delivers “State of the City” Address

On March 10th, Mayor Larry Agran delivered the annual “State of the City” address in front of a packed audience at Irvine City Hall.

Last year, Mayor Agran shared an ambitious aspiration for Irvine to become the Safest, Smartest, Greenest, Healthiest, and Kindest City in America. During this year’s speech, the Mayor outlined a number of new and expanded programs that have been established to move us closer to achieving that lofty goal.

Mayor Agran announced that for the 21st year in a row, Irvine has been recognized as the “Safest Big City in America” according to FBI statistics on violent crime. Agran reported that violent crime fell by 5% and property crime by 16% last year.

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I-CARE Team Celebrates Its One Year Anniversary

Last year, the City established a new resource, the Irvine Community Alternative Response and Engagement (I-CARE) Team.

The team was assembled to assist the Irvine Police Department by handling mental health crisis intervention, homeless outreach and resource connection, nonviolent dispute resolution, home welfare visits, and other community-based needs that may not require a law enforcement response.

Since its launch last year, I-CARE team members have responded to over 4,300 calls involving mental health support, welfare checks, outreach, and nonviolent disputes where compassion and resources make the greatest difference. The team has provided these resources about 79% of the time on their own without needing police intervention or assistance.

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Author: ICNV Staff

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