Mayor Villaraigosa postpones announcement on DWP surcharge hike

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has postponed a Friday news conference on his plan for hiking a surcharge for customers of the Department of Water and Power, replacing that event with one that focuses on his recent lobbying trip to Washington.

Chief Deputy Mayor Jay Carson said the 9:15 a.m. DWP announcement was rescheduled, in part to give Villaraigosa's office more time to verify figures showing the impact of the plan on the utility's residential customers.

Carson said the mayor wants to increase the surcharge by 2.7 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity used. Part of the proceeds would go toward renewable energy and conservation programs. The largest share would be used in the near term to cover the fluctuating cost of coal and natural gas.

Villaraigosa's office has not released any written materials on the plan. But Carson has said the initiative would cause low-end users of electricity -- estimated at 55% of the DWP's residential customers -- to see their bills increase by $2 per month.

The DWP event has been rescheduled to Monday.

-- David Zahniser at Los Angeles City Hall

Comments

[dave]

gimme a break, they are increasing rates in order to pay for raises they gave dwp when the ir customers are taking apy cuts and losing their jobs. more payback for union donors.

[Dave in LA]

Of course he's rechecking his figures. He wants to make sure the surcharge covers the entire 16% raise he gave DWP employees.

[jimster120]

If Villa-Retardo is so passionate about make L.A. a greener place to live by 2020, then how about he convert his own personal living space to more "greener" friendly place. Am I the only person that is sick and tired of dealing with this outragoues "fee" or "surcharges" that these bureaucracies trying to nickeal and dime us to death with these outrageous claims that they want to improve the world, and ignore the budget cuts that we are dealing with.

[evrymartin]

this is the time to stop this mad mayor ignorance
we the voters toll all this city politicians no on propotition B we new he was a scam now is goin around us and forcing us to pay for the union pay increses and there pencions and to take money from ladwp when ever they need money in the los angeles general fund
i will e mail evry one in city hall not to vote NO for this scam and i will show up in city hall next week when this so call leaders take rhis for a vote

[J.H Brown]

The Mayor has too many irons in the fire, and he does not care about the city. It is all about him, and having his name in the media.

[J.H Brown]

The Mayor is taking Measure B through the back door. It is not the city he cares about it is only himself. The DWP board gives him anything he wants. These people serve at his pleasure, so he can control them. We will be paying for the raises that he, and the council gave to DWP for their corrupt work. If someone starts a recall, I will be one of the first to sign, and give money. The Mayor, his 10 deputy mayors and the council must go before we go into bankruptcy.

When you are incompetent as the Mayor, and the council, there is no where to go, but down. It is the worst Mayor we have had out of the three. The Mayor, and the council does not have a brain between them.

[Astonished]

DWP can't keep the power on in my area of the City as it is and they want to up the rates!!! I DON"T THINK SO. As it is my whole house has tap-lights mounted on the walls because the power goes out so often! I say it's time for a big rate reduction instead!!

[AAAAANDRE]

He should go into hiding (permanently) with proposals like that!

[J.H Brown]

You the only reason why it was postponed the inept Mayor and his incompetent staff was prepared. Remember he went to DC to beg for a loan for his monument to himself, the subway to the sea. He was not there trying to get money for LA. They're far too many other things to get money for. The inept Mayor is only thinking about himself as always.

[city dave]

I hope everyone is happy who voted for mini mayor now.
3 more years of him will completely destroy this city.
RECALL NOW!