ECAF: One-Time Rate Hike Approved

After a lengthy debate focused on the DWP’s loss of public trust, the City Council voted 8-6 Tuesday to approve a one-time 4 percent increase in electricity rates equal to .5 cents per kilowatt/hour and voted unanimously for a .1 cent increase per kw/h for green energy and energy efficiency.

The vote represented a repudiation of DWP management, the DWP Commission and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s demand for a .8 cent per kw/h perpetual increase as part of a 2.7 cent per kw/h 12-month increase equal to an average of a 20 to percent hike. The mayor wanted .3 cents in a so-called lockbox for green energy.

The DWP Board, after the vote, called a special meeting consider the Council’s recommendation at 4:30 p.m. at the DWP Headquarters downtown.

Read the full story at http://ourla.org, watch video of the votes on six separate motions and what they mean.