Laguna Beach delays vote on joining Orange County Power Authority

The Laguna Beach City Council has unanimously voted to postpone a decision on joining the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) until late 2027. The delay aims to allow the agency to address ongoing financial and operational concerns.

City staff and the Laguna Beach Environmental Sustainability Committee identified several risks regarding the Community Choice Energy program, including potential electricity price increases, financial instability, and customer stability. Concerns were also raised regarding recent turnover among member agencies, noting that Orange County exited in July 2023 and Huntington Beach left in June 2024.

Under this model, local governments purchase electricity for residents and businesses, while Southern California Edison continues to manage infrastructure, billing, and outage response. City officials stated that more information is required to understand the authority’s long-term direction and financial sustainability.