Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
DWP board approves higher power rates, LA City Council to have final word
Listen
• 0:45
John Cruz, a meter reader for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power opens a water meter in the Hollywood Hills on Friday morning, Aug. 7, 2015.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
The board that oversees water and power in Los Angeles voted unanimously to increase electrical bills Tuesday. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners approved a similar increase in water bills last month.
The new rates are designed to pass the largest increases to households that use the most water and power.
A Los Angeles home that uses typical amounts — about 1,200 cubic feet of water and 500 kilowatts a month — would see its $130 monthly bill go up about $21 over the five-year period of the increase, according to an example provided by the DWP.
The added revenue on the power side would be used to replace aging power poles and equipment, and to shift away from coal power toward cleaner renewable energy sources like solar.
Support for LAist comes from
The new rates have undergone some changes since they were introduced in July. After they were reviewed by the city's independent ratepayer advocate, the proposed power rates were decreased and the charges for water was raised, DWP spokeswoman Michelle Figueroa said.
That review dropped the $900 million budgeted for power projects down to $720 million due to reduced fuel costs and a trimming back in the first two years of the DWP's power system reliability plan. The same review recommended increasing the water projects covered by the rate increases to $330 million from $230 million. That would cover more capital improvement projects to the water system.
The Los Angeles City Council's Energy and Environment Committee will examines the proposed rate schedule. The full council has the power to approve or veto the new rates, but it cannot change them.
If the City Council approves the new rates within the next two months or so, the new rates would kick in on April 1, Figueroa said.
It would be the first power rate increase since 2012. Water rates went up in 2009.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzOTZweCIgd2lkdGg9IjY0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding.
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline.
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist