AGENDA
ORANGE COUNTY POWER AUTHORITY
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Monday, January 26, 2026
11:30 a.m.
This meeting will proceed as an in-person meeting at 15310 Barranca Parkway, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92618. In addition, as a convenience to the public, the Orange County Power Authority is providing an option for members of the public to remotely view and participate in the meeting.
Further details are below. Please note that, in the event of a technical issue causing a disruption in the remote participation option, the meeting may continue unless otherwise required by law.
Note: Any member of the public may provide comments to the Orange County Power Authority Board of Directors on any agenda items by requesting to speak during Item 4. When providing comments to the Board, it is requested that you provide your name and city of residence for the record. Commenters are requested to address their comments to the Board as a whole through the Chair. Comments may be provided in the following manner:
To provide comments during the meeting, in-person attendees, please fill out the public speaker slip and provide it to the clerk at the beginning of the meeting. Before Item 4, the Chair or Clerk will ask members of the public to join the queue to provide public comment. The queue will remain open for a reasonable amount of time to allow members of the public sufficient time to request to speak and inform the Board of the number of speakers. After such time, the queue will be closed and the members of the public who have joined the queue to speak will be recognized at the appropriate time may speak. To join the queue on Zoom video conference by computer or mobile phone, use the “Raise Hand” feature. If joining the meeting using the Zoom dial-in number, you can raise your hand and join the queue by pressing *9. Members of the public will not be shown on video but will be able to speak when called upon.
Comments shall generally be limited to three minutes when speaking, provided that the Chair may equally reduce each speaker’s time to accommodate a large number of speakers or a large number of agenda items. If you have anything that you wish to be distributed to the Board, please provide it via [email protected], who will distribute the information to the Members.
The public may participate using the following remote options:
ZOOM WEBINAR
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
Launch Meeting - Zoom
Dial-in: 1-669-900-6833
Webinar ID: 814 2651 3602
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS
Opportunity for members of the public to address the Board on any items on the agenda.
5. 2026 RATE STABILIZATION COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT PLAN Recommended Actions:
Receive and discuss the presentation and provide feedback to staff.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
Board of Directors meetings comply with the protections and prohibitions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Individuals with a disability who require a modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, in order to participate in the public meeting may contact 949- 767-8700. Requests for disability-related modifications or accommodations require different lead times and should be provided at least 72-hours in advance of the public meeting.
Availability of Board Documents
Copies of the agenda and agenda packet are available at www.ocpower.org. Late-arriving documents related to a Board meeting item which are distributed to a majority of the Board prior to or during the Board meeting are available for public review as required by law. Public records, including agenda-related documents, can be requested electronically at [email protected] or by mail to 15642 Sand Canyon Avenue, P.O. Box 54283, Irvine, CA 92619-4283. The documents may also be posted at the above website. Such public records are also available for inspection, by appointment, at 15310 Barranca Parkway, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92618. Please contact [email protected] to arrange an appointment.
ORANGE COUNTY POWER AUTHORITY
Staff Report – Item 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To: Orange County Power Authority Board of Directors
From: Jacquie Henderson, Director of Communications & External Affairs Approved by: Joe Mosca, Chief Executive Officer
Subject: 2026 RATE STABILIZATION COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT PLAN
Date: January 26, 2026
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STRATEGIC GOALS
☐ Enrich & Grow the OCPA Community:
☐ Prioritize Fiscal Sustainability & Affordability:
☐ Design & Deploy Community-Aligned Customer Programs:
☐ Energize Our Community with Renewable Energy:
☒ Raise Awareness of Community Energy & Advocate for Our Customers:
☐ Not Applicable:
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Receive and discuss the presentation and provide feedback to staff.
BACKGROUND
Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) is a locally controlled public agency focused on community support and clean energy progress. As a not-for-profit, OCPA reinvests net revenue back into the communities it serves through customer programs and local clean energy investments. OCPA was founded as a Joint Powers Agreement between cities with five clear objectives:
1. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to power use,
2. To provide electric power and other forms of energy at a competitive cost,
3. To carry out programs for ratepayers of all income levels that reduce energy consumption,
4. To stimulate and sustain the local economy by developing local jobs, and
5. To promote long-term electric rate stability, energy security, and reliability through local control of electric generation resources.
Since launching service in 2022, OCPA has set its rates by indexing to Southern California Edison’s (SCE) generation rates. For 2026, the OCPA Board of Directors has approved a rate stabilization approach that maintains OCPA’s 2025 generation rates for 2026. This approach was adopted to provide customers with greater rate stability and predictability, taking into account the circumstances discussed at the Board of Directors Regular Meeting on January 12, 2026.
This change to OCPA’s standard rate design and indexing approach provides an opportunity for communications and engagement with customers and member communities. The goal is to ensure clear, concise awareness and understanding of the rate stabilization approach, as well as the outsized value of being part of the OCPA community.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
The Board of Directors requested a plan for how OCPA will communicate with customers about its 2026 rate stabilization. Attached is the detailed plan that will be reviewed for discussion and feedback, within which are the following key points:
2026 Rates Remain Consistent
• OCPA’s 2025 generation rates are staying the same in 2026. • There will be no rate change to the OCPA’s part of the bill. • OCPA is providing cost reliability and predictability in 2026.
OCPA’s Mission
• Decrease greenhouse gas emissions
• Provide energy choice and competition
• Ensure rate stability and predictability
• Support energy affordability and renewable energy equity Direct Bill Comparison to Southern California Edison (SCE) • While OCPA’s competitive margin to SCE is diminished at the start of the year, OCPA’s rates are on par with SCE’s average generation rate over the past three years. • SCE rates are volatile and fluctuate four to six times per year.
Customer Support
• OCPA will launch a Green Discount Program for low-income and cost-sensitive customers. • Subject to California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approval in February 2026, OCPA will administer its Clean Energy Access Program, which provides 100 percent solar energy to customers in disadvantaged communities at a full bill discount of 20 percent.
Attachment A provides a detailed plan for 2026 rate stabilization communications and engagement.
It will be reviewed at the Special Meeting for discussion and feedback.
FISCAL IMPACT
All items included in the draft communications and engagement plan are within budget.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment A – 2026 Rate Stabilization Communications and Engagement Plan OCPA 2026 Rates and Renewable Energy Plans
Communications and Engagement
January 26, 2026
OCPA’s mission is to
provide renewable
energy at competitive
rates and equitably
reinvest to support
sustainable communities.
PCIA
recalculations
SCE artificial
rate reduction
OCPA focused on discounted
rates and took action to
achieve this (deferred revenue)
2025
OCPA will focus on rate stability
and predictability by maintaining
the same rates
(competitive margin gone for now)
2026
Shifting Landscape
• 2+ Billion lbs. carbon emissions reduced
• $600,000+ invested in communities
and CBOs
• 200+ free Level 2 EV chargers provided
• 1,500 Energy Efficiency Kits provided
• Community Power Plan coming Q1 26!
• Direct-to-Renter electrification program
launching March
• Green Discount Program to support low-income / cost-sensitive customers • Clean Energy Access Program
2026 Rates Remain Consistent
• OCPA’s 2025 generation rates are staying the same in 2026. • There will be no rate change to the OCPA’s part of the bill. • OCPA is providing cost reliability and predictability in 2026.
OCPA’s Mission
• Decrease greenhouse gas emissions
• Provide energy choice and competition
• Ensure rate stability and predictability
• Support energy affordability and renewable energy equity Direct Comparison Southern California Edison (SCE)
• While OCPA’s competitive margin to SCE is diminished at the start of the year, OCPA’s rates are on par with SCE’s average generation rate over the past three years.
• SCE rates are volatile and fluctuate four to six times per year.
Customer Support
• OCPA will launch a Green Discount Program for low-income and cost-sensitive customers.
• OCPA received preliminary approval for its Clean Energy Access Program that provides 100% solar energy to customers in disadvantaged communities at a full bill discount of 20%.
Key Messaging
How OCPA
Communicates
Website
• 7.6K / Monthly Visitors
Communications
Platforms
Newsletter
• 6,405 Subscribers
Communications
Platforms
Social Media
• 10.2k Monthly Views
(Organic)
Communications
Platforms
Bus Shelter Advertising
• 500k Avg/ Monthly Impressions
Newspaper Advertising
including Multicultural Outlets
• 83k Avg/ Monthly Impressions
Communications
Platforms
Social Media (Paid)
• 395k Avg/ Monthly Impressions
YouTube (Paid)
• 208k Avg/ Monthly Impressions
Paid Search
• 1.4k Avg/ Monthly Impressions
Communications
Platforms
In-Person Outreach
• 24 events to-date in FY25/26
Communications
Platforms
Multilingual Informational
Materials
Communications
Platforms
Shortform Video
• Shared on Facebook,
Instagram, and YouTube
Communications
Platforms
Mailers
• Annual required regulatory mailers
• Occasional community reinvestment
targeted mailers
• Joint Rate Mailer will be sent in July
with rate comparisons
Communications
Platforms
Current Campaigns
• Brand Campaign
• Get the Facts
• OCPA Unplugged
Upcoming Campaigns
• Customer Testimonials
• Commercial Customer Level Up
Value Proposition
Campaigns
2026 Rate
Stabilization
Communications
2026 Rate
Stabilization
Communications
Website
• Updated renewable energy plan graphics
• Plan cost comparison
• Newsroom addition of board-approved rate plan for 2026 • CEO blog post in Newsroom and on Homepage carousel
• Green Discount Program added to Bill & Payment
Assistance Programs as “Coming Soon”
Website FAQs
• PCIA information added to FAQs
• Detailed PCIA one-sheet linked in FAQs
2026 Rate
Stabilization
Communications
Newsletter
• Preview of CEO blog post and link to Newsroom
Social Media
• Link to CEO blog post
Resources
• Detailed PCIA one-sheet
• Stakeholder rate stabilization one-sheet
• Green Discount Program flyer
2026 Rate
Stabilization
Communications
Community Engagement
• Community workshops to share OCPA update
and information on Green Discount Program
• 1 in each member city
• 1 virtual session with moderated Q&A
• Environmental Roundtable (January)
• Community Leaders Briefing (February)
• Annual Staffers Luncheon (March)
2026 Rate
Stabilization
Communications
Animated Explainer Video (1 min)
2026 Rate
Stabilization
Communications
• Added to the OCPA YouTube page
• Posted to social media
Feedback
and
Questions