News Summary
The Costa Mesa City Council voted to draft an ordinance for potential membership in the Orange County Power Authority, which aims to enhance renewable energy use and reduce costs for residents. This decision comes after analyzing the city’s energy load data, indicating viability for participation. Concerns regarding OCPA’s management and past withdrawals by other cities were raised during discussions. If joined, residents could choose from different energy plans offering various renewable energy percentages.
Costa Mesa—The Costa Mesa City Council voted 5-2 to draft an ordinance exploring membership in the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) during a recent meeting. The OCPA is a community choice aggregation program designed to enhance the use of renewable energy and potentially reduce energy costs for residents by enabling local governments to collectively purchase electricity.
This decision was reached after the city examined its energy load data for the period of 2023-2024, which indicated that joining the OCPA may be viable for Costa Mesa. The city’s energy load is estimated at 631,172 megawatt-hours, catering to approximately 50,558 residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Formed in 2020, the OCPA has faced scrutiny over its leadership stability, with allegations of financial mismanagement, and several member jurisdictions—including the County of Orange, Huntington Beach, and Irvine—recently withdrawing from the program. The agency’s interim Chief Executive, Joe Mosca, reported a reserve rate of 16% of operating costs, with projections to increase to 30% in the following year. The authority currently serves around 14 million customers across California, encompassing 25 community choice aggregators and accounting for 26% of the state’s total energy load.
If Costa Mesa proceeds with its membership, residents could choose from three energy plans: a basic plan offering 47% renewable energy with a 3% cost reduction compared to Southern California Edison (SCE), a smart choice plan featuring 55% renewable energy, and a 100% renewable option. By default, residents would be enrolled in the basic energy plan but would have the option to either switch to a different plan or opt-out entirely.
Looking ahead, the OCPA anticipates approximately $75.1 million in revenues and $64.1 million in operating expenses by fiscal year 2027-28, projecting an operating margin of $11 million. This surplus is intended for reserves, rate stabilization, or community programs. A decision regarding Costa Mesa’s potential membership must be made by the OCPA’s board by December, to allow service to commence in March 2027. Historically, the city has declined to apply for membership in the OCPA due to concerns regarding the organization’s leadership and structure.
During Council discussions, members expressed mixed feelings about moving forward with OCPA. Concerns were raised about the agency’s past issues and overall effectiveness. Some council members advocated for additional review before making a decision, citing past problems within OCPA that have contributed to recent withdrawals by member agencies. On the other hand, a voice of cautious optimism emerged from Council member Andrea Marr, who suggested that joining OCPA might help lower energy costs for residents.
Mayor Pro Tem Chavez emphasized the necessity of ensuring that energy bills remain affordable for constituents and suggested exploring opt-out clauses should the rates fail to deliver on promised savings. Other members of the council registered skepticism regarding the overall benefits of joining OCPA, highlighting the need for further investigation into the agency’s operations.
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Additional Resources
- Los Angeles Times: Costa Mesa Leaning Toward Joining O.C. Power Authority
- Wikipedia: Community Choice Aggregation
- Orange County Register: Irvine Threatens to Leave O.C. Power Authority
- Google Search: Orange County Power Authority
- Los Angeles Times: Costa Mesa Explores Joining Orange County Power Authority
- Google Scholar: Renewable Energy California
- Orange County Register: JCPenney Closing at Westminster Mall
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Community Energy Programs
- Los Angeles Times: Costa Mesa Businesses Displaced by Fire
- Google News: Costa Mesa
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA WRITER
COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
