Could LA100 Triple Your Power Rates?

OUTSIDE VOICE - Lots of things add to increasing power rates including Calif. directive SB100 and L. A. City council directive LA100. Both of these directives require LADWP to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GGE) caused by electricity generation. However, LA100 requires an additional 10% GGE reduction by 2035 (10 years sooner than SB100). LADWP calculates a significant cost difference between the directives. Their analysis shows SB100 requires a 120% increase of avg. rates by 2045 while LA100 requires a whopping 200% increase (tripling of rates!) with most of the increase occurring BEFORE 2035 (ie; in the next 9 years)!

Unfortunately for residents, residential rates are typically HIGHER than avg. rates so expect the increases to be even higher. And lastly, don't forget the 10-12.5% City Utility Tax added to your final power bill, just so the City Council gets its fair(?) share from us, the owners of LADWP.

So, with a 200+% increase in rates coming and all the politicians talking about "AFFORDABILITY" you'd think the City Council or Mayor would step in and say "STOP, LA100 COSTS TOO MUCH"; but, they're avoiding the issue because no one is complaining about LA100 costs. Well, what if I give you something more to complain about. Buried at the end of the LA100 directive is the statement; LADWP's LA100 plan shall "have minimal adverse impact on ratepayers". To me, the difference in rates between SB100 and LA100 is not minimal, nor is the impact. What do you think? (Did City Council really mean what it wrote?)

Apparently, this issue is not a concern for City Council to look into since every time LADWP increases rates, ratepayers pay more including more City Utility Tax going directly to City Council. But, after extremely high power bills were received recently, the public is now requesting answers, not more stalling. If your are concerned about the proposed rates increases, I recommend you contact your Councilperson, Mayor or Neighborhood Council for answers. AND, don't forget to remind them that LADWP's LA100 plan doesn't comply with the City Council directive ("at minimal adverse impact on ratepayers.")

Or, just stay silent and open your wallet wider every year and pay MORE... FOREVER!!!

(Scott Munson, Chatsworth, a retired LADWP Assistant Director of Water Engineering Services.)