Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley Releases Statement in Response to OC Power Authority State Audit

Supervisor Foley Underscores OCPA’s Ongoing Systemic Failures

ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley released a statement in response to the California State Audit of the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA). The findings showed OCPA leadership’s circumvention of procurement policies and improper use of funds for marketing and financial services contracts.

“Once again, the latest state audit demonstrates the inexcusable systemic operational problems at the OC Power Authority. This state audit confirms and expands upon the findings of the internal audit I called for last summer – that the OCPA lacks transparency and accountability within the agency.

“Elected leaders across the region must take proactive steps to combat the climate crisis, but we cannot do that when mismanagement by the OCPA causes increased risk for rate increases due to a failure of confidence by consumers and taxpayers. These findings validate our concerns of the systemic deficiencies of this agency, and I hope these audits spur immediate change within the OCPA. Meanwhile, the County continues to explore our other Community Choice Aggregation options for clean and renewable low-cost energy,” said Supervisor Foley.

Supervisor Foley directed county staff to pursue audits of the agency in August 2022. In December 2022, the County’s internal audit and operational performance audit revealed evidence of fiscal risk, waste, failure to comply with state laws, and transparency as to rates and energy resources. Following the results, Supervisor Foley voted to withdraw from the OCPA due to the agency’s lack of transparency with consumers, failure to implement government financial control best practices, and the lack of effective leadership and expertise among key staff. The most recent State audit supplements and corroborates the findings by the County auditors.

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Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.

Supervisor Foley’s Board appointments include the Orange County Fire Authority, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Law Library Board of Trustees, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, OC Public Libraries Advisory Board, Orange County Housing Finance Trust, Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, Orange County Transportation Authority, and the Transportation Corridor Agency.