Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge Fountain Valley to reconsider OCPA membership; council schedules OCPA update for June
Summary
Two public commenters told the council the Orange County Power Authority has burned through reserves and is likely to raise rates; Councilwoman Kim Constantine requested a study session and staff confirmed an OCPA update is scheduled for June 16.
Two members of the public used the council’s unscheduled‑matters public‑comment period on April 20 to urge Fountain Valley to reconsider its membership in the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA), citing reported losses and potential future rate increases.
"Notice that they've lost a total of $34,000,000," said a public commenter announced by the clerk as Mike Rowe, arguing the city should consider leaving OCPA while an exit period remains and describing energy trading as a complex business with liability risks.
Vicky Johnson told the council she believes OCPA has ‘‘burnt through’’ roughly $45 million in reserves and is moving toward a ‘‘cost of service’’ pricing model that could make rates 12–18% higher than local investor‑owned utility indexing. "I feel it's really, really extractive," Johnson said, urging the council to consider withdrawing from OCPA.
Council discussion later in the meeting acknowledged the speakers’ concerns. Councilwoman Kim Constantine asked for a study session on OCPA to examine the city’s contract and options, and requested staff schedule both an opportunity for the earlier commenter to present more details and for OCPA to answer questions. City Manager Maggie Lee said OCPA is scheduled to give an update at the council’s June 16 meeting.
Council members did not take any formal action to leave OCPA at the meeting; Constantine’s request will be considered when the OCPA update is presented.
