[Opinion] Enough is Enough: Larry Agran’s Obsession with Taking Away Consumer Choice Puts Irvine Families at Risk

  • August 1, 2025, 11:33 am America/Los_Angeles

SoCal Edison ratepayers have the highest electric bills in California, according to this July 2024 presentation from the California Public Utilities Commission.  

Irvine Mayor Larry Agran’s years-long obsession with destroying energy choice in Irvine is hurting families already struggling with rising energy bills. 

Orange County residents pay some of the highest energy bills in the nation, all while Southern California Edison (SCE) continues to hike our rates and use our money to lobby against community interests. With little accountability from state regulators, SCE raked in $1.7 billion in profit last year, raised rates by 90% in the last 10 years, and plans to push another 10% increase onto residents in 2026.

Despite clear community support for consumer choice and lower energy bills, Agran continues to obsessively push an agenda that would eliminate competition with monopoly SCE and leave customers no escape from skyrocketing rates. According to a March poll, 82% of California voters are concerned about monthly electricity costs, up from 78% in June 2024.  

Despite the evidence, Agran continues to promote misinformation that scapegoats the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) for higher energy rates. In 2022 and 2023, he agendized multiple votes to withdraw Irvine from the agency and was rebuked both times by the majority of the City Council. Anyone who has ever rented from the Irvine Company knows just how little control consumers have in this city. For the first time, OCPA has empowered residents to choose how their electricity is generated and how much they pay, breaking Irvine’s long-standing tradition of monopoly dominance. 

Since 1978, Agran has presided over Irvine’s monopoly system. Perhaps that’s the root of his obsession; if Irvine can choose to leave SCE, maybe it could choose new leadership, too. Agran’s attempt to destroy OCPA is about keeping the rigged status quo in power. 

In the meantime, OCPA continues to deliver for Irvine families despite Agran’s relentless efforts to undermine it. In 2025 alone, the agency launched a new rebate program to support EV charging stations, solar panels, and battery storage. It adopted a new sustainable workforce framework to prioritize local hiring and fair wages for future energy projects. It continues to compensate rooftop solar customers more for the extra energy they return to the grid. Most importantly, it provides Irvine residents with cleaner energy at lower rates than SCE.

These are real, measurable gains benefiting Irvine residents. They didn’t happen because of Larry Agran, but rather despite him, thanks to the work of Irvine’s OCPA board representatives, Councilmembers William Go and James Mai, who have focused on good governance while weathering personal attacks from Agran.

If Agran succeeds in dismantling OCPA, the harms to working families will be real and permanent. According to California regulators, more than 7,700 Irvine households served by SCE are behind on their utility bills. Irvine families deserve leaders who prioritize lowering cost-of-living increases rather than using community resources for political gain. 

Agran is facing a tough re-election campaign after a disastrous year. From protests at his state of the city speech to a defeated veterans cemetery proposal to his Republican ally losing the District 5 special election to the City Manager Oliver Chi quitting midway through the year – it is unsurprising that Agran is attempting to revive his flagging mayoralship by politicizing a thriving clean energy agency. 

But like with SCE, we don’t have to accept his way of doing things as inevitable. We can, and must, decide for ourselves.