powerlinesAccording to officials, it’s a new day at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power where costs have gone up and most see rates will too.  DWP has begun to hold public meetings throughout its service area to talk about costs and rates.  Such a meeting will take place in the Eastern Sierra at the Tri-County Fairgrounds Monday, July 18th.

In a press release from DWP, the utility states that “The power industry in California and nationwide is undergoing a total transformation.”  The release refers to unprecedented and new legal mandates and the need to “replace aging power infrastructure to maintain strong reliability.”  DWP officials say they want to hear the public’s priorities.

You can check out more on this at www.ladwp.com/laforward.

In an opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times, writer Jim Newton reveals more.  Newton says DWP faces rough state mandates for renewable energy, obligations to restore the Owens Lake, increasing claims on its most expensive source of water, the Colorado River, and the huge need to replace power poles and water mains.  Newton writes that the only solution is rate hikes.

New DWP Manager Ron Nichols has been hosting meetings across LA. It is unknown if the top man will come to the Owens Valley meeting. Nichols admits the first reaction to rate hikes is resistance.  He points out that LA pays less for water and power than anywhere else in California.

Nichols is quoted as saying that mandated costs will push up electric rates by more than 15% over the next three years.  The DWP meeting in the Owens Valley happens Monday, July18th, 6:30 pm at the Tri-County Fairgrounds.

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