Orange County Power Authority Fires CEO

Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) CEO Brian Probolsky’s days are numbered. The agency’s board of directors voted 3-1 last week to fire Probolsky. He’ll step down at the end of May.

This was a last-ditch effort to save the troubled green energy supplier. OCPA has faced criticism for financial mismanagement and a lack of transparency, as outlined in a scathing state audit and grand jury report. 

In December, a fed up Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to end its contract with OCPA. Member cities Buena Park, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, and Irvine have also considered leaving. 

Advocates of the community choice energy model hope Probolsky’s ouster will be enough to save the supplier. Community choice programs have been hailed for encouraging local control and combatting climate change. 

At least one OCPA critic — Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley — said the agency would have to do much more to prove itself. 

“I wish I could say I am pleased to see the Orange County Power Authority Board is finally beginning the necessary process to address the longstanding concerns of this agency, but there is much structural reform needed as outlined in our Internal Audit report,” Foley wrote in a statement.  

County Supervisor Don Wagner was the lone vote against Probolsky’s termination. An interim CEO has not yet been named.