Utility to discuss rate changes to help fund water and power infrastructure investments
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) invites customers and interested stakeholders to participate in any of eleven upcoming community meetings to learn more and have their questions answered about the proposed rate changes. Meetings are set up to reach LADWP customers in all parts of the City of Los Angeles and LADWP's service territory, including Owens Valley. All who are interested may attend in person or participate via live webcast, where available. To learn more about the rates proposal and to view meeting locations and times, customers can also visit www.MyLADWP.com online.
The community meetings are scheduled as follows:
Saturday, August 8 at 11 a.m. – Crenshaw
Crenshaw Customer Service Center
4030 Crenshaw Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Tuesday, August 11 at 6 p.m. – Westchester
Westchester Senior Citizen Center
8740 Lincoln Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045
Tuesday, August 18 at 6 p.m. – Canoga Park
Canoga Park Senior Citizen Center
7326 Jordan Ave., Los Angeles, CA 91303
Thursday, August 20 at 6 p.m. – South LA
Estelle Van Meter Multipurpose Center
7600 S Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90003
Thursday, August 27 at 6 p.m. – Boyle Heights
Boyle Heights City Hall Community Room
2130 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033
Thursday, September 10 at 6 p.m. – Wilmington
Wilmington Senior Citizen Center
1371 Eubank Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90744
Thursday, September 17 at 6 p.m. – Owens Valley
LADWP Bishop Office
300 Mandich Street, Bishop, CA 93514
Thursday, September 24 at 6 p.m. – Sunland-Tujunga
Sunland-Tujunga Municipal Building
7747 Foothill Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91042
Tuesday, September 29 at 6 p.m. – Griffith Park
Griffith Park Visitor Center
4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Thursday, October 1 at 6 p.m. – Pacoima
Vic Alicia Broadous-Duncan Center
11300 Glenoaks Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91331
Wednesday, October 7 at 6 p.m. –Downtown LA
LADWP Headquarters (JFB)
111 N. Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Webcast available
Background
LADWP is proposing water and power rate changes over the next five years that would provide funding to accelerate the replacement of aging infrastructure, better protect against drought conditions and natural disasters, and meet water and power supply mandates while improving customer service. The proposed rates are also designed to further incentivize conservation while keeping LADWP’s rates low in comparison with nearby utilities. The utility presented its proposal to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners on July 8, launching a four-month community engagement and public outreach effort. Numerous briefings with stakeholder groups have already occurred and the first regional rates meeting was held at LADWP Headquarters on July 22nd.
The proposed rate changes will provide steady, gradual increases to invest in infrastructure and better ensure the reliability and sustainability of water and power supplies in L.A., while giving customers the tools to save and manage costs through expanded water conservation and energy efficiency programs. A residential customer using a typical amount of water and power would see an average annual rate increase of 3.4%, or $4.75 per month, over the next five years; a typical customer’s water and power bill would increase by $23.73 per month—from $132.44 to $156.17 at the end of five years. If adopted, LADWP’s combined water and power rates would still remain below those of most neighboring utilities.
While LADWP’s water main leaks are less than half the state average, and have decreased by 37% over the past seven years with the proactive replacement of older, more vulnerable pipes, LADWP’s cycle of replacement is still too slow. LADWP’s pipes are getting older at a faster rate, and the utility needs to ramp up replacement of this and other infrastructure to minimize disruptions for its customers and save water.
On the power side, additional revenue is also necessary to upgrade and replace aging infrastructure. Even though LADWP’s reliability is among the best in California, 45% of LADWP’s 320,000 poles are over 60 years old, which is the average design life of a power pole. In addition, LADWP will eliminate the use of coal power in the next 10 years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expand renewable energy to 33% of power sales, increase energy efficiency to reduce electricity use by 15%, and rebuild coastal power generating stations to eliminate ocean water cooling. The new power revenues will allow LADWP to continue the transition of its power supply to comply with goals and mandates.
To learn more about LADWP’s Rates Proposal and to view a short video about why rate adjustments are needed, visit www.myLADWP.com.
To RSVP for any of the community meetings or to participate in the webinar on October 7, go to www.myladwp.com/community_
