February 18, 2016 

City News Service 

 

The Department of Water and Power’s plan to raise water rates over the next five years was discussed by a Los Angeles City Council committee this week.

 

The rate hikes, which would result in a 4.76 percent or $3 per year increase to the average residential water bill, will be taken up by the Energy and Environment Committee.

 

Councilman Felipe Fuentes, who chairs the committee, said that with public trust in the DWP “at an all-time low, it’s critical (the DWP) makes its case for a new rate increase.”

 

The water rate hike proposal was approved last December by the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, with the City Council up next to decide whether to adopt the new rates. A proposal to raise DWP's energy bills will be taken up by a City Council committee at a later meeting.

 

The DWP say the revenue from the water rate increases will go toward upgrades on the city's aging pipe system.

 

Mayor Eric Garcetti supports the rate hike plan, which has received the blessing of Fred Pickel, the independent watchdog of the DWP.

 

The typical single-family household could see bills go up by 4.76 percent, or $3 per month, each year, for the next five years, under the rate hike plan.

 

A monthly bill of $57.79 for the typical residential water user would increase to an average rate of $72.90 at the end of the five years, according to an example in a staff report.

 

Residential water customers who use less water could see smaller hikes, while heavier water users could see bigger increases. Residential water users could see annual monthly rate hikes of between $1 and $11.

 

Commercial water users would see monthly bills go up between $3 and $60 annually.

Category: Business