The Orange County Power Authority, which has been embroiled in controversy, today announced Joe Mosca as its permanent chief executive.
Mosca served as interim CEO since June 1, following the departure of Brian Probolsky. Mosca previously served as the director of Communications and External Affairs for OCPA.
Since its start in 2020, the entity has received criticism from both conservative and progressive politicians, some of whom won elections on platforms to abolish it or fire its chief executive. It’s lost customers like the County of Orange while Huntington Beach plans to leave.
The agency, which has more than 231,000 customers, received 126 applications for the top job and interviewed four candidates.
“After a comprehensive multinational search for the CEO of the Orange County Power Authority, the board of directors has elected to select Mr. Joe Mosca to lead the agency into the next chapter,” Chair Fred Jung said in a statement. “Mr. Mosca’s deep expertise in the energy sector and local government have been a tremendous asset to the Orange County Power Authority.”
Prior to joining OCPA, Mosca was a founding member and the former chair of the San Diego Community Power board of directors and also worked with San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Company. Additionally, Mosca served as the Mayor of Sierra Madre in Los Angeles County and the Deputy Mayor of Encinitas in San Diego County.
Mosca holds a Juris Doctorate from Quinnipiac University School of Law and is an active member of the California Bar Association.