FAQs

• How does the Clean Energy Access Program work?

  Qualifying customers will receive a 20% discount on top of other electric bill
  discounts they may already receive, including the California Alternate Rates
  for Energy (CARE) or Family Electric Rates Assistance (FERA) programs. The
  20% Clean Energy Access Program discount will be applied to the customer’s
  already discounted FERA or CARE rate, for a total bill discount of
  approximately 35% to 45%.

• I get my bill from Southern California Edison. How can OCPA give me a discount?

  Orange County Power Authority purchases clean power that Southern California Edison (SCE) delivers through its transmission network. Your monthly electric bill from Southern California Edison (SCE) includes OCPA charges for electricity generation along with SCE charges for delivery of the electricity to your home. The 20% Clean Energy Access Program total bill discount will appear on the OCPA portion of your bill.

• Do I have to buy or install anything?

  No. Enrolling in the Clean Energy Access Program does not require you to purchase or install any equipment. This program is funded by the California Public Utilities. Commission and is offered at no cost to eligible customers. The purpose of the program is to help customers and communities in need.

• Who is eligible?

  To be eligible for Clean Energy Access Program, you must be a residential, non-Net Energy Metering (NEM) OCPA customer on a CARE or FERA rate living in a “disadvantaged community” as defined by the California Public Utilities Commission.

  OCPA employs an auto-enrollment procedure that prioritizes customers who are at high risk of disconnection. Eligible customers will be automatically enrolled based on OCPA’s prioritized eligibility list until capacity is reached. Customers will receive a notification after they have been enrolled in the program. If additional capacity becomes available, new enrollments will continue to follow OCPA’s prioritized eligibility list.

  Call (866) 262-7693 to check if you’re qualified and have been enrolled in the program.

   

• How do I enroll in CARE or FERA?

  To find out if you qualify and enroll in CARE or FERA, apply online at www.sce.com/care or call SCE at 800-655-4555 (customer hold times vary; OCPA recommends applying online).

• Will I lose my CARE or FERA discount if I enroll in the Clean Energy Access Program?

  No. You will retain your CARE or FERA discount, and the 20% Clean Energy
  Access Program discount will be applied to your CARE or FERA rate, for a
  total discount of approximately 35% [FERA] to 45% [CARE] on your monthly
  bill.

• How long will the program last? Will it run out of money?

  The Clean Energy Access Program is ongoing. Once you are enrolled in the Clean Energy Access Program, you will continue to receive the discount as long as you meet the qualifications (for up to 20 years, subject to state funding of the program).

  OCPA employs an auto-enrollment procedure that prioritizes customers who are at high-risk disconnection. Eligible customers will be automatically enrolled in the program until capacity has been reached. If additional capacity becomes available, new enrollments will continue to follow OCPA’s prioritized eligibility list. OCPA reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of the Clean Energy Access Program.

• If I’m already on OCPA’s 100% Renewable Choice energy plan, can I participate?

  If you enroll in Clean Energy Access Program, you will be switched from OCPA’s 100% Renewable Choice plan to the Basic Choice plan. You will continue to receive 100% renewable energy, with the added benefit of the 20% discount on your monthly bill.

• What happens if I move?

  If you turn off service at your current address and move to a new location, you will need to recertify your eligibility for Clean Energy Access Program at the new location by calling or emailing OCPA at (866) 262-7693 or answers@ocpower.org.

• Can I leave the Clean Energy Access Program?

  Yes. There is no minimum length of time that a customer must participate and there is no termination fee associated with de-enrolling from the Clean Energy Access Program. If you choose to leave the Clean Energy Access Program, the change will become effective no later than two billing periods after the date OCPA receives your request to de-enroll. Customers are eligible to remain in the Clean Energy Access Program for a period of up to 20 years from the date they first begin service under the program.

• Can I participate if I am in a demand response program?

  Yes. Clean Energy Access Program customers can concurrently participate in any Demand Response (DR) program(s) for which they are eligible. All demand response payments and credits are based on a customer’s metered usage and are not impacted by participation in the Clean Energy Access Program.

• Can I participate if I am a Net Energy Metering (NEM) customer?

  Unfortunately, Net Energy Metering (NEM) customers are not eligible for the Clean Energy Access Program.

• Do I need to be on a specific rate to participate in the Clean Energy Access Program?

  If you enroll in Clean Energy Access Program you will be switched from Smart Choice or 100% Renewable Choice to Basic Choice. The Clean Energy Access Program rate will give you a 20% discount on your total bill based on the Basic Choice rate. Customers enrolled in the Clean Energy Access Program are not eligible for any other OCPA rate discount programs.

  Customers on the following rates are ineligible for the Clean Energy Access Program:

  • Net Energy Metering (NEM)
  • A master meter rate schedule (Schedules DM, DMS-1, DMS-2 or DMS-3)
  • TOU-EV-1
  • TOU-D-T
  • DE (utility employee) rate schedules
  • Non-residential rate schedules
• What happens if I opt-up to a different OCPA renewable energy plan after I’m enrolled in the Clean Energy Access Program?

  Once you’ve enrolled in Clean Energy Access Program, if you switch your account to another OCPA plan you will be automatically disenrolled from Clean Energy Access Program. You can request re-enrollment at a later date if you meet the eligibility requirements and if the program is accepting new enrollments.

• What if I lose my CARE or FERA eligibility?

  Customers who, after enrollment into the Clean Energy Access Program, become ineligible for CARE or FERA will be disenrolled from Clean Energy Access Program. If you become qualified for CARE/FERA again in the future, you may be re-enrolled in the Clean Energy Access Program if there is capacity available.

• Can I participate in other OCPA rate discount programs if I am enrolled in the Clean Energy Access Program?

  Customers enrolled in the Clean Energy Access Program will not be eligible to participate in other OCPA rate discount programs, including the Green Discount Program. If you are auto-enrolled in the Clean Energy Access Program, you will receive the program benefits associated with the Clean Energy Access Program and will not be enrolled in additional OCPA rate discount programs.