Orange County Power Authority or SCE: what a household pays beta
Orange County Power Authority buys the electricity for 3 member cities; SCE delivers it and sends the bill. Pick your city, rate plan and usage to see the official comparison of a typical bill on each Orange County Power Authority product and on SCE, with an estimate for your own usage.
Every plan on the official comparison
The typical monthly bill printed on the comparison for each residential rate plan, and the difference from SCE (red: more, blue: less).
All OCPA customers
SCE–Orange County Power Authority joint rate comparison: SCE rates are current as of June 1, 2026. OCPA rates are current as of October 20, 2025. Source (fetched 2026-10-20).
| Plan | Typical use | SCE | Basic Choice | Smart Choice | 100% Renewable Choice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D Tiered · sheet: Domestic | 523 kWh | $203.26 | $228.18 +12.3% | $233.41 +14.8% | $236.03 +16.1% |
| D CARE Tiered · sheet: D-CARE | 523 kWh | $122.79 | $147.71 +20.3% | $152.94 +24.6% | $155.55 +26.7% |
| D FERA Tiered · sheet: D-FERA | 523 kWh | $156.30 | $181.22 +15.9% | $186.45 +19.3% | $189.07 +21.0% |
| TOU-D-4-9 Time-of-use, peak 4–9 pm · sheet: TOU-D-4-9 | 522 kWh | $202.09 | $226.95 +12.3% | $232.17 +14.9% | $234.78 +16.2% |
| TOU-D-4-9 CARE Time-of-use, peak 4–9 pm · sheet: TOU-D-4-9-CARE | 522 kWh | $122.02 | $146.88 +20.4% | $152.10 +24.7% | $154.71 +26.8% |
| TOU-D-4-9 FERA Time-of-use, peak 4–9 pm · sheet: TOU-D-4-9-FERA | 522 kWh | $155.35 | $180.21 +16.0% | $185.43 +19.4% | $188.04 +21.0% |
| TOU-D-5-8 Time-of-use, peak 5–8 pm · sheet: TOU-D-5-8 | 523 kWh | $202.19 | $227.11 +12.3% | $232.34 +14.9% | $234.96 +16.2% |
| TOU-D-5-8 CARE Time-of-use, peak 5–8 pm · sheet: TOU-D-5-8-CARE | 523 kWh | $122.07 | $146.99 +20.4% | $152.22 +24.7% | $154.84 +26.8% |
| TOU-D-5-8 FERA Time-of-use, peak 5–8 pm · sheet: TOU-D-5-8-FERA | 523 kWh | $155.43 | $180.35 +16.0% | $185.58 +19.4% | $188.20 +21.1% |
| TOU-D-PRIME Time-of-use PRIME · sheet: TOU-D-PRIME | 522 kWh | $202.19 | $227.05 +12.3% | $232.27 +14.9% | $234.88 +16.2% |
| TOU-D-PRIME CARE Time-of-use PRIME · sheet: TOU-D-PRIME-CARE | 522 kWh | $122.09 | $146.95 +20.4% | $152.17 +24.6% | $154.78 +26.8% |
| TOU-D-PRIME FERA Time-of-use PRIME · sheet: TOU-D-PRIME-FERA | 522 kWh | $155.44 | $180.30 +16.0% | $185.52 +19.4% | $188.13 +21.0% |
Why the bills differ
The delivery part of the bill goes to SCE whichever provider you choose. What differs is the price of the power itself and the exit fee (the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment, PCIA): a charge on CCA customers for power contracts the utility signed before they left, set by the CPUC each year by the year the customer's community left (its “vintage”). How it moved since 2018, by utility and vintage: the exit fee by year.
Time-of-use, peak 4–9 pm (TOU-D-4-9PM), Basic Choice: the power price is 13.88¢ a kWh against SCE's 11.65¢ (2.22¢ higher). The exit fee and franchise fee (SCE's “surcharges”: the Cost Responsibility Surcharge, which includes the PCIA, and the franchise fee) is 3.75¢ for Orange County Power Authority customers and 0.00¢ for SCE customers (3.75¢ more). (SCE prints no surcharge for its own customers: their share is inside its generation rate.) Delivery is printed 1.21¢ lower for Orange County Power Authority customers. Net: 4.76¢ a kWh, or $24.86 on the typical 522 kWh bill (+12.3%).
Time-of-use, peak 4–9 pm (TOU-D-4-9PM), CARE, Basic Choice: the power price is 13.88¢ a kWh against SCE's 11.65¢ (2.22¢ higher). The exit fee and franchise fee (SCE's “surcharges”: the Cost Responsibility Surcharge, which includes the PCIA, and the franchise fee) is 2.54¢ for Orange County Power Authority customers and 0.00¢ for SCE customers (2.54¢ more). (SCE prints no surcharge for its own customers: their share is inside its generation rate.) Delivery is the same. Net: 4.76¢ a kWh, or $24.86 on the typical 522 kWh bill (+20.4%).
The difference over time
Every comparison found from 2021 on, most of them from archived copies (utilities overwrite these sheets in place).
| Rates as of | Plan | Utility bill | Products (vs the utility) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCE June 1, 2026 / CCA October 20, 2025 OCPA member cities | DOMESTIC (D) · 523 kWh | $203.26 | Basic Choice default $228.18 +12.3% Smart Choice $233.41 +14.8% 100% Renewable Choice $236.03 +16.1% | source |
| SCE January 1, 2026 / CCA October 20, 2025 OCPA member cities | DOMESTIC (D) · 523 kWh | $204.19 | Basic Choice default $229.11 +12.2% Smart Choice $234.34 +14.8% 100% Renewable Choice $236.96 +16.0% | source |
| SCE November 15, 2025 / CCA October 20, 2025 OCPA member cities | DOMESTIC (D) · 541 kWh | $217.86 | Basic Choice default $215.51 −1.1% Smart Choice $220.92 +1.4% 100% Renewable Choice $223.63 +2.6% | source |
| SCE June 1, 2025 / CCA July 14, 2025 OCPA member cities | DOMESTIC (D) · 541 kWh | $194.75 | Basic Choice default $192.69 −1.1% Smart Choice $198.10 +1.7% 100% Renewable Choice $200.80 +3.1% | source |
| SCE March 1, 2025 / CCA March 24, 2025 OCPA member cities | DOMESTIC (D) · 541 kWh | $198.86 | Basic Choice default $196.79 −1.0% Smart Choice $202.20 +1.7% 100% Renewable Choice $204.91 +3.0% | source |
| SCE June 1, 2024 / CCA July 1, 2024 OCPA member cities | DOMESTIC (D) · 520 kWh | $193.00 | Basic Choice $190.86 −1.1% Smart Choice $196.06 +1.6% 100% Renewable Choice default $198.66 +2.9% | source |
| SCE March 1, 2024 / CCA March 20, 2024 OCPA member cities | DOMESTIC (D) · 520 kWh | $196.15 | Basic Choice $193.85 −1.2% Smart Choice $199.05 +1.5% 100% Renewable Choice default $201.65 +2.8% | source |
| SCE June 1, 2023 / CCA June 10, 2023 OCPA member cities | DOMESTIC (D) · 569 kWh | $209.73 | Basic Choice $208.05 −0.8% Smart Choice $213.74 +1.9% 100% Renewable Choice default $216.58 +3.3% | source |
| SCE March 1, 2023 / CCA April 1, 2023 OCPA member cities | DOMESTIC (D) · 569 kWh | $198.30 | Basic Choice $196.74 −0.8% Smart Choice $202.43 +2.1% 100% Renewable Choice default $205.27 +3.5% | source |
Your options
Switch to another Orange County Power Authority product
Web form (embedded on each tier page). Orange County Power Authority: change your product.
Return to SCE
Orange County Power Authority: opt out · 1-866-262-7693.
“Is there a fee to opt-out? There is no fee from OCPA for opting out of energy service with us.” source
“Customers who opt out of Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) within their first 60 days of service may return to Southern California Edison (SCE) on their next meter read date following five business days from their request. Customers who opt out of OCPA within 60 days of starting service will not be eligible to return to OCPA for twelve months per SCE requirements. ... If opting out after 60 days of service, customers will not be eligible to return to OCPA for twelve months per SCE requirements.” source
SCE's rules for returning customers
Within the first 60 days: “If you opt out within the first 60 days after transferring to CCA Service, your account will be transferred from CCA Service and to the same bundled service you were on prior to being transferred to CCA Service. at no cost to you and with no penalty.” source
After 60 days: six months’ notice: “If you opt out of CCA service more than 60 days after being transferred to CCA Service, you will be required to provide a completed Six-Month Advance Notice to Return to Bundled Portfolio Service (Form 14-955) before you will be eligible to return to SCE bundled service.” source
Or return at once: “Request an immediate return to SCE (during the six-month advance notice period), in which case your service account will be served on Schedule Procurement Charge — Transitional Bundled Service (Schedule PC-TBS) for the six-month advance notice period. You will continue to pay CCA CRS charges while on TBS service.” source
Then a minimum stay: “Following the end of the six-month advance notice period, your account will be returned to SCE's bundled service for a minimum commitment of 12 months. During this 12-month period, customers will not be allowed to switch to CCA Service or Direct Access Service until their 12-month commitment has been fulfilled ... *The time served under TBS shall apply toward the 12-month minimum commitment with SCE.” source
Re-entry fee: “Note: Either option is subject to a one-time re-entry fee to cover costs associated with account processing. Please see CCA Info Tariff.” source
Orange County Power Authority also offers its own bill calculator, which takes your usage by time of day: Orange County Power Authority bill comparison calculator.
Member cities and their default product
The default product is the one a city's customers are enrolled in unless they choose another; where a CCA offers several, each member city's council chooses it. Every city's default and the council decisions behind it.
| City | Default product | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Park | Smart Choice Temporary for 2025–2026 (Resolution 14945, adopted 2025-01-28); the default reverts to 100% Renewable Choice in 2027 unless the council acts again. source | source | |
| Fullerton | Smart Choice since 2022 (launch) | source | |
| Irvine The council voted on 2024-12-12 to give OCPA notice to withdraw (Buena Park staff report, 2025-01-28); OCPA's FAQ still lists Irvine. | Basic Choice since 2025 (council vote 2024-12-12) | source | |
| Fountain Valley service planned 2027-04. 'Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) will launch service in the city of Fountain Valley in April 2027'. | Basic Choice since service starts April 2027 (council joined late 2024) | source | |
| Huntington Beach left | — |
Orange County Power Authority in the CCA money pages: finances, credit ratings, money returned to customers, and money between Orange County Power Authority and its member city governments. · Every CCA