With support only coming from environmental groups, the massive
long-term rate hikes approved by the DWP Commission in an emergency
meeting last week took a beating Thursday at a three-hour hearing of Jan
Perry’s Energy and Enviroment Committee.
Relying heavily on testimony from the Council-hired PA Consulting and
sharp criticism from the business and activist communities, Perry
Committee unanimous recommended instructing the Chief Legislative
Analyst and City Administrative Officer to provide answers to a series
of concerns by Tuesday — a sign of the mistrust for the DWP’s
management.
The committee asked for a report on what is needed to provide minimum
financial stability for the city and DWP while protecting ratepayers
from rate hikes that could reach 34 percent for some customers within 12
months and rise sharply higher in the following years.