One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Los Angeles utility to up energy efficiency 15 percent
SONY DSC
(
Photo by Michael Chen via Flickr Creative Commons
)
Listen
1:25
Los Angeles utility to up energy efficiency 15 percent
The board that oversees L.A.’s department of water and power voted today to boost the city’s energy efficiency goals more than the state requires.
Until recently, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was failing to meet state goals for reducing electricity demand. Officials blamed inconsistent funding for an energy efficiency program that was hard to navigate. Now it’s been overhauled, and DWP is investing one and a quarter billion dollars over the next decade to help its ratepayers use about 15 percent less power.
Selling less electricity means DWP might have to nudge energy rates up a bit over the next 10 years to cover fixed costs, like replacing lines. But community activists, environmentalists, business and labor leaders told the board efficiency programs are worth it. Stella Ursua is part of the RepowerLA coalition.
"There are a lot of folks both small businesses and homeowners that are really struggling," Ursua said. "Having these types of improvements are critical to their staying in business, and to ensuring that their energy bills go down."
Ursua says LA’s energy efficiency program also helps sustain jobs – DWP and its electrical worker’s union train technicians to audit energy use and retrofit equipment at an 18-month program.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
