DWP Discusses Rate Hikes During Meeting
July 23, 2015
City News Service
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power hosted a community meeting this week to share information about a plan to raise customer bills 2.4 percent to 5.4 percent annually for the next five years. DWP officials who presented the plan to the Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners earlier this month said the rate hikes are needed to pay for infrastructure needs and to achieve water and energy conservation goals and improve customer service. DWP General Manager Marcie Edwards and other officials discussed the plan with customers and other stakeholders during a 6 p.m. meeting at the department's downtown headquarters, 111 N. Hope St.
The hikes could mean the typical residential water and power customer could face a 3.4 percent increase, which translates to paying an additional $4.75 a month, DWP officials said. But customers could see increases of as little as 2.4 percent, a roughly $1.95 per month hike, or as high as 5.4 percent, which is about $17.64 per month, depending on usage. DWP officials, in trying to make the case for the rate hikes, say they have worked to save $467 million through reductions in labor and other costs.
In order to keep up with rising power and water costs over the next five years, DWP would need to bring in an additional $900 million for its power service, and $230 million for its water service, officials said. DWP officials say they plan to spend the next several months doing outreach on the plan. The plan will first be considered by the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, with the City Council and Mayor Eric Garcetti the ultimate decision-makers.