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When the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) was being established in 2019, Irvine businesses and residents were promised cleaner electricity at lower rates.
This year, all businesses operating in the City of Irvine and all residents are being automatically transferred from the previous provider of electricity — Southern California Edison (SCE) — and enrolled in OCPA at a higher rate.
The City of Irvine is funding OCPA through 2022. So far, $7.7 million of Irvine taxpayer money has been advanced to OCPA, and a $35 million line of credit has been backed by the City, with no oversight. In April, the Power Authority was fined nearly $2 million by the State for not purchasing enough electricity. And, the Power Authority projects a $41 million loss in its first two years.
For months, Irvine City Councilmember Larry Agran has called for the City of Irvine to conduct a forensic financial audit of OCPA to learn where Irvine taxpayer dollars are going and to determine the City’s liability if OCPA fails.
