Orange County Power Authority Rate Selection Guide
Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) is a Community Choice Aggregator supplying electricity to ~216,000 accounts across Orange County, California. OCPA procures the generation while Southern California Edison (SCE) delivers power and handles metering and billing — so all customer data access flows through SCE's Green Button, Share My Data, and CISR systems.
Orange County Power Authority Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOU-GS-1-D (Smart Choice) | commercial | ~$0.090-$0.140/kWh generation (TOU) | Small commercial sites without large demand |
| TOU-GS-2-D (Smart Choice) | commercial | ~$0.086-$0.135/kWh generation + $21.88/kW summer demand | Medium demand-metered businesses |
| TOU-8-SEC-D (Smart Choice) | industrial | ~$0.074-$0.126/kWh generation + $19.75/kW summer demand | Large industrial at secondary voltage |
| TOU-8-PRI/SUB-D (Smart Choice) | industrial | ~$0.072-$0.120/kWh generation + voltage discounts | Largest facilities at primary/subtransmission voltage |
Market Overview
OCPA is the default electricity generation provider for accounts within its Orange County member jurisdictions under California's CCA framework (AB 117). SCE remains the wires/delivery utility and consolidated biller. Customers choose between OCPA generation products (Basic Choice, Smart Choice, 100% Renewable Choice) or opting out to SCE bundled generation. Generation is roughly 30% of a typical bill; SCE delivery is roughly 70%.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Orange County Power Authority Data Access Guide →
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Options
Default CCA generation provider for Orange County member communities. Offers Basic Choice (lowest cost), Smart Choice (default, higher renewable content), and 100% Renewable Choice. OCPA's Board locked 2025 generation rates through calendar year 2026 for rate stability.
Current Rate Schedules
OCPA charges only the generation portion of the bill; SCE delivery charges apply separately. OCPA's Board approved maintaining its existing 2025 generation rates and product cost differentials for all products (Basic Choice, Smart Choice, 100% Renewable Choice) through calendar year 2026. The generation rates below are from OCPA's published commercial rate schedule effective October 20, 2025 (the rate set carried into 2026). Smart Choice is the commercial default. SCE delivery, the PCIA, and other non-bypassable charges are billed by SCE and are not set by OCPA.
Effective: October 20, 2025 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOU-GS-1 (Small General Service, TOU) | commercial | Small commercial customers on SCE TOU-GS-1; OCPA supplies generation, SCE delivery. | Time-of-use generation energy charges by season/period. Example TOU-GS-1-D Smart Choice generation: Summer On-Peak (4-9pm M-F) $0.13953/kWh, Summer Off-Peak $0.08956/kWh, Winter Off-Peak $0.09847/kWh. | Smart Choice ~$0.090-$0.140/kWh generation (TOU-GS-1-D)+ Demand charges apply on certain GS-1 sub-schedules per SCE structure |
| TOU-GS-2 (Medium General Service, TOU) | commercial | Medium commercial demand-metered customers (SCE TOU-GS-2); OCPA generation + SCE delivery. | TOU generation energy plus demand charges. Example TOU-GS-2-D Smart Choice: Summer On-Peak generation $0.13530/kWh, Summer Off-Peak $0.08639/kWh; demand charge Summer On-Peak $21.88/kW, Winter Mid-Peak $5.75/kW. | Smart Choice ~$0.059-$0.135/kWh generation (TOU-GS-2-D)+ $21.88/kW summer on-peak; $5.75/kW winter mid-peak (TOU-GS-2-D) |
| TOU-8 (Large Industrial, Secondary) | industrial | Large industrial / large power customers on SCE TOU-8 (secondary voltage); OCPA generation + SCE delivery. | TOU generation energy plus large demand charges. Example TOU-8-SEC-D Smart Choice: Summer On-Peak generation $0.12595/kWh, Summer Off-Peak $0.08431/kWh; demand charge Summer On-Peak $19.75/kW, Winter Mid-Peak $6.05/kW. | Smart Choice ~$0.058-$0.126/kWh generation (TOU-8-SEC-D)+ $19.75/kW summer on-peak; $6.05/kW winter mid-peak (TOU-8-SEC-D) |
| TOU-8 (Large Industrial, Primary/Subtransmission) | industrial | Very large industrial customers taking service at primary or subtransmission voltage (SCE TOU-8-PRI / TOU-8-SUB); OCPA generation + SCE delivery. | TOU generation energy plus demand charges with voltage discounts. Example TOU-8-PRI-D Smart Choice: Summer On-Peak generation $0.12007/kWh, Summer Off-Peak $0.08065/kWh; demand Summer On-Peak $18.80/kW. | Smart Choice ~$0.056-$0.120/kWh generation (TOU-8-PRI-D)+ $18.80/kW summer on-peak (TOU-8-PRI-D); ~$20.77/kW (TOU-8-SUB-D) |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Medium commercial business (office, retail, light industrial)
Most medium OCPA commercial accounts sit on TOU-GS-2 with both generation TOU and SCE demand charges.
On TOU-GS-2-D, summer on-peak generation is ~$0.135/kWh vs. ~$0.086/kWh off-peak, and demand runs $21.88/kW summer — so peak management drives the savings.
- Pre-cool or schedule equipment before 4pm in summer
- Evaluate batteries to shave 4-9pm demand
- Consider Basic Choice to save ~$0.01/kWh if renewable content isn't required
Large industrial / high-load facility
Large facilities take service on SCE TOU-8 (secondary, primary, or subtransmission) with OCPA generation.
Higher service voltage earns generation and demand voltage discounts; summer on-peak demand is ~$19-$21/kW so peak shaving has outsized impact.
- Confirm the correct voltage level for available discounts
- Use SCE EnergyManager 15-minute interval data to find peaks
- Deploy storage/curtailment for 4-9pm summer peaks
Sustainability-focused organization
Organizations with carbon/ESG goals can elect higher renewable tiers.
100% Renewable adds roughly $0.015/kWh over Basic Choice for fully renewable supply — useful for Scope 2 reporting.
- Pair with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager via SCE Green Button auto-upload
- Document renewable election for ESG/GHG reporting
- Compare against on-site solar + NEM economics
Energy manager / third-party data access
Consultants and energy platforms need automated access to OCPA/SCE usage data.
SCE Green Button Connect (OAuth 2.0) provides automated interval/billing data at no cost to the third party; CISR Form 14-796 covers manual fulfillment.
- Register for GBCMD at SCE's partner portal
- Use CISR Form 14-796 for one-off or bulk pulls (first 2/account/year free)
- For large C&I, request 15-minute interval data via EnergyManager
Historical Rate Trends
OCPA has historically benchmarked its generation rates to SCE's generation rates and updated them several times per year (e.g., commercial schedule updates in Jan, Mar, Jul, and Oct 2025). For 2026, the Board chose rate stability.
January 12, 2026
OCPA Board approved maintaining existing 2025 generation rates and product cost differentials for Basic Choice, Smart Choice, and 100% Renewable Choice through calendar year 2026.
0% (held flat)October 20, 2025
Commercial generation rate schedule update (the rate set carried into 2026).
Adjusted vs. prior scheduleOverall trend: Stable for 2026 — 2025 generation rates and product cost differentials maintained; OCPA also announced it will begin decoupling from SCE's rate index.
Next expected change: No scheduled OCPA generation rate change for calendar year 2026 (rates locked at the October 20, 2025 levels per the Jan 12, 2026 Board action).
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because OCPA bills only generation and the charges are time-of-use, C&I customers reduce cost primarily by managing on-peak (4-9pm summer) usage and demand, and by selecting the product tier that fits their sustainability goals and budget.
Shift load off summer on-peak
For: All TOU C&I schedules (TOU-GS-1/2, TOU-8)
Move discretionary load out of the 4-9pm summer on-peak window where OCPA generation and SCE demand charges are highest.
Peak demand management / batteries
For: Demand-metered commercial and industrial
Use storage or load control to clip 4-9pm demand peaks that drive SCE demand charges of $19-$22/kW (summer on-peak on TOU-GS-2/TOU-8).
Choose the right product tier
For: All OCPA customers
Basic Choice is lowest cost; Smart Choice (default) adds ~$0.01/kWh; 100% Renewable adds ~$0.015/kWh total. Align tier to sustainability commitments vs. budget.
Verify schedule and voltage level
For: Large industrial on TOU-8
Confirm the SCE rate schedule and service voltage (secondary vs. primary vs. subtransmission on TOU-8) — higher voltage service carries generation and demand discounts.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Orange County Power Authority interval data →
Deregulated Market Shopping
Orange County does not have full retail electric competition. The only generation choice for most customers is OCPA (default) vs. returning to SCE bundled service. SCE always provides delivery, metering, and billing regardless of generation provider.
How to Compare Orange County Power Authority Suppliers
- 01Review the SCE-OCPA Joint Rate Comparison for your schedule
- 02Use OCPA's Commercial Rate Comparison calculator
- 03Choose an OCPA product tier (Basic / Smart / 100% Renewable) or opt out to SCE
Contract Terms for Orange County Power Authority Supply Agreements
- No fixed-term contract — month-to-month CCA service
- Opt out to SCE at any time (transition timing rules apply)
- 2025 generation rates locked through calendar 2026
Common Pitfalls When Shopping Orange County Power Authority Rates
- PCIA (exit fee) appears as a separate line item for CCA customers and can change
- SCE delivery charges (~70% of the bill) are not set by OCPA
- Generation 'apples-to-apples' comparisons depend on SCE's frequently changing bundled rates
Frequently Asked Questions
How do OCPA commercial customers access their interval and billing data?▾
All data flows through Southern California Edison. Use SCE Green Button Download My Data (CSV/XML) for self-service, SCE EnergyManager for large C&I interval analytics, or authorize a third party via Green Button Connect (OAuth 2.0) or CISR Form 14-796. OCPA itself does not host customer data systems.
What rate schedules apply to OCPA business customers?▾
OCPA supplies generation on the same SCE schedule your account uses — TOU-GS-1 (small), TOU-GS-2 (medium demand-metered), or TOU-8 (large industrial, by voltage). OCPA's generation charges are time-of-use; SCE bills delivery and demand charges separately.
How much do OCPA generation rates cost for commercial accounts?▾
Per OCPA's commercial schedule effective Oct 20, 2025 (held through 2026), Smart Choice generation runs roughly $0.086-$0.140/kWh depending on schedule and TOU period — e.g., TOU-GS-2-D summer on-peak $0.13530/kWh vs. off-peak $0.08639/kWh. Generation is about 30% of the total bill; SCE delivery is about 70%.
Are OCPA rates changing in 2026?▾
No. On January 12, 2026, OCPA's Board approved maintaining 2025 generation rates and product cost differentials for all products through calendar year 2026, and announced it will begin decoupling from SCE's rate index.
Can a third-party energy manager get automated data for OCPA accounts?▾
Yes. SCE Green Button Connect My Data provides automated OAuth 2.0 API access to billing and interval data at no cost to the third party. For manual or bulk delivery, use CISR Form 14-796 (first two fulfillments per account per 12 months are free).
Does OCPA offer 15-minute interval data?▾
15-minute interval data is available for select C&I schedules (e.g., large TOU/GS-3 accounts) through SCE's AMI meters, accessible via Green Button or SCE EnergyManager. Hourly is standard for most accounts.
Automate Orange County Power Authority Rate Analysis with Nectar
Nectar continuously monitors your Orange County Power Authority rate options and alerts you when a better schedule is available. Save 10-30% on energy costs.
Nectar for Energy & Sustainability Teams
Managing utility costs for commercial or industrial buildings? Nectar offers a free rate analysis — we'll review your current rate schedules and identify where switching tariffs or shifting load can save 10-30%.
Get a Free Rate AnalysisNectar for Energy Brokers & Consultants
Advising clients on rate optimization? Nectar works with energy consultants who need reliable interval data and automated rate comparison tools.
Partner with Us