A Note From CEO Joe Mosca: Leaning Into Our Mission and Locking Rates

A new year brings a fresh start—a moment to reflect, reset priorities, and look ahead. At Orange County Power Authority (OCPA), our priorities are clear and consistent. As your local, not-for-profit energy provider, we remain firmly committed to our founding principles:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Expanding renewable energy choice
• Championing affordability
• Reinvesting in our local communities
• Promoting long-term electric rate stability, energy security, and reliability

As CEO of OCPA, I am genuinely excited about the opportunities 2026 presents. That may sound surprising given the headwinds facing the clean energy transition at the national level—but meaningful change happens locally. It starts with communities.

In California, Community Choice Energy is proof of that. What began as a response to the 2000–2001 energy crisis has grown into a statewide movement. Today, 25 Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) serve more than 15 million people across 200 communities, providing locally governed, not-for-profit energy options. In a sector dominated by investor-owned utilities for more than a century, CCAs—including OCPA—now supply more than 25 percent of California’s electricity, and that share continues to grow.

That said, the transition to renewable energy is not always smooth. It comes with peaks and valleys, and CCAs ride those waves alongside their customers—always keeping customers top of mind.

As many OCPA customers know, electricity bills are rarely simple or predictable. Rates can change by time of day, season, and utility decisions. For the past three years, OCPA has set its rates in comparison to Southern California Edison (SCE), which has meant customers experienced rate changes four to six times per year.

In 2026, OCPA is leaning into stability.

We are locking in our 2025 generation rates for all of 2026. These rates closely align with SCE’s average generation rate over the past three years—without the volatility. For OCPA customers, this means consistent generation charges and greater peace of mind when planning household budgets.

However, it’s important to share the full picture.

Recent SCE rate adjustments—including credits tied to prior overcollections and balancing account changes—make SCE’s bundled generation rates appear temporarily lower at the start of 2026. At the same time, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a change to how it calculates the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA), a fee paid by customers. This change, supported by investor-owned utilities, increases PCIA charges for CCA customers.

As a result, total bills may be approximately 12 to 16 percent higher at the beginning of the year. We do not expect this to be permanent. Our statewide trade association, CalCCA, is actively challenging the PCIA methodology, and OCPA is closely tracking this process with the intent to pass along any future savings directly to our customers.

While OCPA’s direct comparison to SCE shows a narrower margin at the start of 2026, our rates remain aligned with SCE’s long-term average—without unexpected fluctuations—and deliver significantly more renewable energy. Importantly, OCPA controls only the generation portion of your bill, which accounts for about 30 percent. The remaining 70 percent consists of SCE delivery charges, which we do not control and which can change frequently.

Locking our rates is a meaningful first step toward long-term rate predictability and reduced reliance on SCE’s rate volatility.

Affordability remains central to our mission. To better support low-income and cost-sensitive customers, OCPA will launch a Green Discount Program in mid-2026. This program will offer up to 40 percent carbon-free energy at a rate that is 1 percent lower than SCE’s equivalent generation rate. The program will be available to non-solar residential customers, with priority given to those enrolled in CARE and FERA.

In addition, OCPA has received preliminary CPUC approval for its Clean Energy Access Program, expected to launch in the third quarter of 2026. This program will provide eligible low-income residents with 100 percent solar energy and a total bill discount of 20 percent—on top of existing discounts. Once enrolled, customers will remain in the program long-term.

OCPA is riding these waves with you—right here in Orange County. Over the past three years, we’ve made meaningful progress toward cleaner air, stronger communities, and greater energy choice. In 2026, we will continue launching programs that address local needs, including affordability and air quality, while expanding our reach and advocating for our customers at the state and federal levels.

We are proud of the customer service we provide. If you see us in your community, please say hello—we want to hear from you. And if you have questions about your bill, our call center is here to help.

Thank you for being part of the OCPA community. Together, I am confident we will continue making meaningful progress in 2026 and beyond.

About Orange County Power Authority

The Orange County Power Authority is a not-for-profit public agency that offers clean power at competitive rates, significantly reducing energy-related greenhouse emissions and enabling reinvestment in local energy programs. To learn more, visit www.ocpower.org.