Statement by Austin Beutner, General Manager, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power:
"I am very encouraged by the productive discussions that have taken place this week," said Austin Beutner, LADWP General Manager.  "A tremendous amount of progress was made after a series of discussions with senior staff of the State Water Board and the LADWP team this week.  As a result, at this time we will focus our efforts to resolve this matter with the Water Board rather than through the legislature.  The joint efforts are leading toward a balanced solution -- a solution which minimizes costs and achieves the objectives of the new OTC policy.  LADWP will be making investments in the near term to improve our power system reliability, transition away from coal and increase the mix of renewable energy.  It is critical that our plans to reduce impacts to the ocean from once-through-cooling systems be cost effective.  We appreciate the hard work of the State Water Board staff and look forward to swiftly and successfully resolving this matter."
 
Statement by Mark Gold, President, Heal the Bay:
"Heal the Bay is extremely encouraged that the LADWP has undertaken promising negotiations with the state Water Board" said organization President, Mark Gold.  "We are pleased to have been working closely with LADWP and the State to come up with a cost effective compliance plan that will protect marine life and comply with state policy."

Background:
California has been reviewing and developing a statewide policy pursuant to the Federal Clean Water Act to reduce the impacts of the once through cooling technology used by some power plants.  The LADWP has been working with many stakeholders involved to carefully craft a balanced statewide policy.  This is a complex issue that must address environmental objectives and costs for customers, while also ensuring power reliability.  The LADWP just released its new draft long-term energy resource plan for public review and comment.  In the near and long term LADWP will be making investments to ensure a reliable power supply, reduce its reliance on coal and to pursue environmental objectives, including reducing impacts from the use of OTC.  It is important that the statewide OTC policy allow LADWP to continue effectively pursuing these goals.

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LOS ANGELES — As Los Angeles braces for another hot day, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reminds customers to conserve energy use where possible today, while staying safe.

The energy demand reached 5670 megawatts Wednesday and is expected to match, and potentially exceed, that level today with highs exceeding 100 degrees for the third straight day in the San Fernando Valley.  Any time energy demand approaches this level, it is wise to implement active conservation to prevent overtaxing electrical infrastructure from that serves Los Angeles day in and day out.  Conservation is recommended only where doing so does not jeopardize anyone's health or safety.

Following are simple tips our customers can use to reduce their power consumption:

Tips for the Home:

• Adjust thermostat to 78 degrees or more to reduce energy usage.
• Limit the use of appliances during peak hours of the day--use washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and other heavy appliances during evening hours.
• Try to avoid cooking during peak hours of the day since it will add to the heat inside the home.
• Ventilate your home at night and early morning by opening windows and doors to clear out the heat and allow cooler air to circulate.
• Turn off lights and equipment when they are not in use.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) wherever appropriate.
• During the heat of day, close your draperies, shades, or blinds to reduce the extra heat from direct sunlight and check your home for adequate insulation.
• Plant shade trees, to reduce heat gain to the house.
• Install/use whole house fans for comfort cooling. The whole house fan will cool down your house early evenings and early mornings for a fraction of the energy cost of an A/C unit.
• Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize your energy savings.
• Clean or replace your air-conditioner's filter(s) every month to keep your air-conditioner running more efficiently.
• Regularly brush or vacuum the condenser coils at the bottom or rear of your refrigerator and check door gasket for tight fit and adjust if necessary.
• Buy energy-saving EnergyStar-labeled appliances.
• Limit the time you run your pool pump: Summer (six hours a day), Winter (four hours a day.)

Tips for the Workplace:

• Turn off your desk and overhead lights, and meeting room lights, if they are not needed, or install motion detectors switch for each room.
• Keep personal appliance use to minimum.
• Turn off all computer equipment when you leave the office or when they are not being used.
• Be sure your computer equipment goes into the sleep mode when not in use. (80% savings in energy use)
• Go paperless when possible. Reduced printing and copying translates into reduced energy use.

Other LADWP programs to help save money and energy include:

• Customers seeking to cool off by purchasing a room air conditioner, LADWP offers a $50 rebate on a qualifying EnergyStar-rated model. Customers considering installing central air conditioner can receive $100 on an energy efficient model.
• Consumer Rebate Programs: In addition to air conditioning units described above, customers can receive rebates on other energy efficient devices, including pool pump and motor replacements ($300), dual pane windows ($1.00 per square foot), and EnergyStar refrigerators ($65.)
• Refrigerator Exchange: Qualifying low-income or Lifeline customers can receive a free energy efficient refrigerator in exchange for an old energy-wasting model.
• Refrigerator Recycle: LADWP customers who turn in and recycle their old, inefficient refrigerators can earn a $35 cash rebate in addition to the $65 rebate for the new unit.
• Shade Trees: Cool off your home and help reduce storm-water runoff by planting more trees. LADWP residential and business customers can receive up to seven free shade trees.

Customers can log on to www.LADWP.com to learn more about energy saving programs and rebates.

The public and members of the media are encouraged to check the Department’s news site and Twitter page, @LADWP, for updates.

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LOS ANGELES — Changes to the City of Los Angeles' Water Conservation Ordinance went into effect today for Los Angeles City residents and businesses, allowing LADWP customers to water with sprinklers up to three days per week. Customers whose street addresses end with an odd number – 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 – are permitted to use their sprinkler systems on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Customers whose addresses end in even numbers – 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 are permitted to do so on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.  Addresses ending in fractions are treated as whole numbers and observe the same day restrictions as others on their same side of the street, (ie: 4321 ½ is regarded as 4321, an odd-numbered address.)

Sprinkler time limits are based on the type of nozzle used.  Spray head sprinklers and bubblers, which are non-conserving models and are common in most landscapes, are allowed up to 8 minutes per watering station per day. Rotors and multi-stream rotary heads are allowed 15 minutes per cycle and up to two cycles per day per watering station. Watering with sprinklers is restricted to hours before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m., regardless of the watering day.

All other prohibited uses of water, which include prohibiting hosing down driveways and sidewalks and water runoff, requiring all leaks be fixed and only using hoses fitted with shut-off nozzles, remain in effect.   Hand-watering using garden hoses fitted with shut-off nozzle devices is permissible any day of the week before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m.

The changes to the Ordinance were approved by the Board of Water and Power Commissioners on July 22.  The Los Angeles City Council approved the revisions on August 18 and the Mayor signed them into law on Monday.

Educational awareness efforts, and enforcement where applicable, will continue to be conducted by the LADWP Water Conservation Team, whose members actively patrol Los Angeles communities to help inform customers of water waste they observe in progress and learn about through tips from neighbors and concerned residents who call 1-800-DIAL DWP or send e-mails to waterconservationteam@ladwp.com. 

In an effort to help our customers save water and money, LADWP offers a rebate on water conserving sprinkler nozzles of up to $8 per nozzle.  The Department offers numerous other rebate programs and incentives for switching to water efficient devices and tips for easy ways to reduce water use. This information, as well as comprehensive information on the new watering schedules and the prohibited uses of water, is all available at www.ladwp.com.

Customers may apply for a Hardship Variance from specific Ordinance requirements, including customers in designated High Fire Severity Zones. Variance Instructions and Forms are available online at www.ladwp.com/waterconservation and at all LADWP Service Center locations. For more information, call 213-367-0771.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation's largest municipal utility, provides reliable, low-cost water and power services to Los Angeles residents and businesses in an environmentally responsible manner. LADWP serves about 1.4 million electric customers and 680,000 water customers in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) today announced dates for six regional community workshops to provide input on the city's long-range power plan.  The workshops are scheduled to take place in the San Fernando Valley, East Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, South Los Angeles and the Harbor area in mid-September. The public workshops will focus on the 2010 Draft Power Integrated Resource Plan (Draft IRP), which, when further developed and completed following public input gleaned from the workshops, will provide a framework for meeting the current and future energy needs of the city.

About 120 customers and other stakeholders attended the first public workshop, held on August 12.

"We are very excited by the turnout at our first workshop and look forward to hearing more input from the city’s diverse population as we conduct future workshops," said Aram Benyamin, Senior Assistant General Manager, LADWP Power System. "This process is all about getting feedback from our customers to help shape the city’s energy future."

During the workshops, participants have the opportunity to break into small groups, led by independent facilitators, to learn more about the Draft IRP, and provide comments as well as indicate their priorities for LADWP's long-term energy plan. "We hope these small groups will provide a comfortable, informal atmosphere in which customers can feel free to comment on any aspect of the Draft IRP," said Mr. Benyamin.

The Draft IRP provides information regarding LADWP’s long-term strategic investments such as local power plants, transmission systems, energy efficiency, and various approaches to adding renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Upcoming workshop dates and locations:

• East Valley:
  Saturday, Sept, 11, 10 a.m. – Noon
  Los Angeles Mission College
  13356 Eldridge Ave., Sylmar 91342
• West L.A.:
  Monday, Sept. 13, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  Stephen S. Wise Temple
  15500 Stephen S Wise Drive, Los Angeles 90077
  
• South L.A.:
  Tuesday, Sept. 14, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  California African American Museum-Exposition Park
  600 State Drive, Los Angeles 90037
• East L.A.:
  Wednesday, Sept. 15, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  California State University
  5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles  90032-8778
  King Hall Lecture Hall 1, King Hall B2005 & King Hall C3097
• Harbor:
  Monday, Sept. 20, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor
  601 S. Palos Verdes St., San Pedro 90731
• West Valley:
  Wednesday, Sept. 22, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  Holiday Inn – Warner Center
  21101 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills 91364

For more information, to register for a workshop or to submit comment, please visit www.lapowerplan.org.

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LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles City Council today approved changes to the City of Los Angeles’ Water Conservation Ordinance. The changes simplify the law’s water conservation “phases” and change the schedules for permissible outdoor watering with sprinklers.

Under the revised Ordinance, customers whose street addresses end with an odd number – 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 – will be permitted to use their sprinkler systems on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, before 9 a.m. and after 4 p.m. Customers whose addresses end in even numbers – 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 – will be permitted to do so on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, before 9 a.m. and after 4 p.m.  Addresses ending in fractions will be treated as whole numbers and observe the same day restrictions as others on their same side of the street, (ie: 4321 ½ is regarded as 4321, an odd-numbered address.)

Sprinkler time limits will be based on the type of nozzle used.  Spray head sprinklers and bubblers, which are non-conserving models and are common in most landscapes, will be limited to 8 minutes per cycle and one cycle per day per watering station.  Rotors and multi-stream rotary heads will be allowed 15 minutes per cycle and up to two cycles per day per watering station.

The revised Ordinance will also reduce the number of water conservation phases from six to five. “Phases” of the Ordinance correspond with severity of water shortage, with each increase in phase containing stricter conservation measures. Currently, Los Angeles restricts LADWP customers to outdoor watering with sprinklers twice-weekly. 

All other components of the Ordinance, including the prohibited uses of water, will remain the same. Watering with sprinklers is restricted to hours before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m., regardless of the watering day. Hand-watering using garden hoses fitted with shut-off nozzle devices is permissible any day of the week before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m.

Following approval by the City Council, the Ordinance is subject to review by the Mayor. If approved, the changes will become effective upon publication, which would occur approximately one week after the Mayor’s review period ends.

Educational awareness efforts, and enforcement where applicable, will continue to be conducted by the LADWP Water Conservation Team, whose members actively patrol Los Angeles communities to help inform customers of water waste they observe in progress and learn about through tips from neighbors and concerned residents who call 1-800-DIAL DWP or send e-mails to waterconservationteam@ladwp.com. 

In an effort to help our customers save water and money, LADWP has increased the rebate on water conserving sprinkler nozzles to $8 per nozzle, which covers the purchase price.  The Department offers numerous other rebate programs and incentives for switching to water efficient devices and tips for easy ways to reduce water use. This information, as well as comprehensive information on the new watering schedules and the prohibited uses of water, is all available at www.ladwp.com.

Customers may apply for a Hardship Variance from specific Ordinance requirements, including customers in designated High Fire Severity Zones. Variance Instructions and Forms are available online at www.ladwp.com/waterconservation and at all LADWP Service Center locations. For more information, call 213-367-0771.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation's largest municipal utility, provides reliable, low-cost water and power services to Los Angeles residents and businesses in an environmentally responsible manner. LADWP serves about 1.4 million electric customers and 680,000 water customers in Los Angeles.

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LOS ANGELES- Members of the Ratepayer Advocate Advisory Group held their first working meeting yesterday afternoon in an effort to develop recommendations on the role and responsibilities of a ratepayer advocate position to provide neutral expert analysis and advice to policy makers and the public regarding water or power rate actions proposed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP.)  The advisory group joined LADWP Chief Administrative Officer Cecilia K. T. Weldon for initial discussions as members set out to establish their recommendations.

On June 10th, the Board of Water and Power Commissioners approved the establishment of an independent ratepayer advocate and recommended the formation of an expert panel to provide input and recommendations on how the position should be structured to ensure maximum effectiveness and neutrality.  The advisory group is comprised of Kristin Eberhard, Legal Director, Western Energy and Climate Projects, Natural Resources Defense Council; Chuck Ray, Vice-Chair, Neighborhood Councils - LADWP Memorandum of Understanding Oversight Committee; Carol E. Schatz, President & Chief Executive Officer, Central City Association of Los Angeles, and Stuart Waldman, President, Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA.)

The group is charged with defining the specifics of the ratepayer advocate's office and function, including structure, role and responsibility as well as how the office will be funded and staffed and where it should be located to ensure complete neutrality.  The members are committed to developing their recommendations within the next 30-45 days so that a ratepayer advocate office may be established as soon as possible. 

"I'm pleased that LADWP is taking proactive steps to engage customers, enhance transparency and incorporate a third-party analysis of its investment decisions," said Ms. Eberhard.

"I'm hopeful that this effort by the LADWP and its Board of Commissioners will lead to an independent entity that will provide greater transparency into the financial structure and governance of a major asset of the people of Los Angeles, their Department of Water and Power," said Mr. Ray.

"This is an important first step to assure transparency and fair rates at LADWP," said Ms. Schatz.

“VICA is pleased to be included in shaping the ratepayer advocate role with LADWP,” said Mr. Waldman. “We will carefully consider the scope of this office and how it can best fit into the current oversight structure that already exists within the City of Los Angeles.”

The central responsibility of a ratepayer advocate is to review, analyze and provide expert independent advice to policy makers regarding utility rates and proposed rate changes, and to provide ongoing review and analysis regarding rate-related and budgetary issues.

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LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) officials together with Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz, representatives of the Veterans Affairs of Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and The Turf Company marked the completion of a major turf replacement project at the VA's West Los Angeles facility. Funded through LADWP’s Commercial/Industrial Drought-Resistant Landscape Program, the project removed 7.5-acres, or 328,317 square feet, of grass and replaced it with drought-tolerant landscaping.  The project is expected to save more than 8.1 million gallons of water each year – enough to serve 50 households annually. 

“With an estimated 40% of our city’s water used outdoors, LADWP’s turf replacement programs for commercial and residential customers go a long way toward reducing our water use across the city, said James McDaniel, LADWP Senior Assistant General Manager –Water System. “Our rebate programs are investments in permanent water conservation that will help reduce our reliance on expensive imported water and we thank the VA and The Turf Company for partnering with us.”

The transformation of a once under utilized, heavily water grassy area to a drought tolerant garden was carried out by The Turf Company, which is owned and operated by U.S.military veteran John Young. Young hired and training 20 patients of the VA's Greater L.A. Health System, providing valuable on the job training and certification in such areas as forklift operation, CPR, and OSHA 10. Through this project, veterans learned how to install irrigation systems, properly sizing the piping for maximum efficiency with existing flows and pressures.

Of additional benefit to the VA's patients, the newly landscaped area featuring drought-tolerant plants will serve as a healing environment for patients and their families. The Health System will use the transformed area as an application of the Planetree model, promoting healing through interaction with natural spaces.

“This project is a sterling example of environmental thoughtfulness, great job training and local and federal governmental entities cooperating well.  That it is happening at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System makes it all the sweeter,” said LA City Councilmember Paul Koretz.

“This partnership between the VA and the Los Angeles DWP is a great example of intergovernmental collaboration that ultimately resulted in a win for the Veterans involved in the project, as well as those whom we'll be able to better serve through conserving our resources," said Donna Beiter, Director of VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.

 “This landscaping project has been a win-win for the city of Los Angeles and for veterans. We hope to be able to work together in the future to continue to bring water savings and job creation to the city,” said John Young, The Turf Company President.

Since June 2009, when LADWP began mandatory water conservation, LADWP customers have reduced their water use by nearly 20%, saving more than 42 billion gallons– enough to serve the cities of Burbank, Santa Monica, Long Beach and Beverly Hills, combined. LADWP’s governmental customers, which includes the VA's Greater L.A. Health System, achieved a combined savings that exceeded all other sectors, successfully reducing water use by more than 30% in the same period.

 The Commercial/Industrial Drought Resistant Landscape Incentive Program, which pays $1 for each square foot of turf replaced, is one of the many water and money saving programs available to LADWP customers. Introduced in 2009, the program has replaced 42.7 acres of turf, resulting in a combined water savings of 46.3 million gallons a year. Turf replacement incentive programs, offering a $1 per square foot, are also available for LADWP’s residential customers through LADWP’s Residential Drought Tolerant Resistant Landscape Program.

LADWP offers several rebate programs to help customers save water and money indoors and outdoors. Customers interested in tips on how to conserve water or in information on rebate programs can visit www.ladwp.com or call 1-800-DIAL DWP.

LOS ANGELES - Approximately 270,000 customers are now enrolled in the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Low Income Discount Program, it was announced today at the Board of Water and Power Commissioners' (Board) special meeting held in South Los Angeles at the Department's Crenshaw Customer Service Center. Over the past two years LADWP has aggresively worked to expand its low-income program to reach more participants.  Since January 2008 over 100,000 additional LADWP customers have enrolled. 

The Department has recruited new participants through working relationships with the Housing Authority and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, local advertising, including on MTA buses, and through a partnership with the Southern California Gas Company where Gas Company low-income customers who were not taking advantage of the LADWP program were contacted and enrolled. LADWP Customer Service Division's goal for 2010 is to add another 30,000 more low income customers by the end of the year to reach a total of 300,000 participants.

In addition, more LADWP customers will be eligible for discounts on their water and power bills under new low income eligibility levels approved today by the Board.  The higher annual income limits conform to State of California criteria, which are adjusted annually.  Customers are eligible for the Low Income Discount and Lifeline (senior citizen discount program) rates if their total household income is at or below the qualifying income level, which was adjusted June 1st based on inflation. The qualifying income levels are set by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Household income limits, effective June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011, are as follows:

"Our Low Income Discount Program helps people save money on their water and power bill and it is important our customers know they can take advantage of this program designed to help them make ends meet," said Lee Kanon Alpert, President of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners.  "We know there are eligible customers in our City who are not currently participating and we want to reach them.  Money saved is money put back in people's pockets and into our local economy.  In all, over $60 million each year is saved by customers who are most in need through this program."

LADWP Payment Assistance Programs

The LADWP Low Income Discount Program offers a reduced rate for cost of electricity, water and sewer services for qualifying residential customers. The Senior Citizen Lifeline Program applies a discount to the energy bills of income-qualified customers who are 62 years of age or older, or permanently disabled, who provide proof of disability. Low Income and Lifeline customers are all given the opportunity to trade in older, inefficient refrigerators for new energy-efficient models through the Department's Low Income Refrigerator Exchange Program.

All parties interested in LADWP's low income payment assistance programs are encouraged to learn more and enroll by calling 1-800-DIAL DWP (1-800-342-5397) or by visiting the Department's website at www.ladwp.com and clicking on "Customer Service."

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was established more than 100 years ago to provide a reliable and safe water and electric supply to the City of Los Angeles residents and businesses. The LADWP serves approximately 1.4 million electric customers and 680,000 water service customers. For more information, please visit www.ladwp.com.  

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LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) asks all residents to reduce their energy usage wherever possible today, as long as doing so does not compromise their or their family members’ health or safety.

This morning LADWP minimized power imports on a transmission line that passes through the Leona Valley and began generating power at in-basin power plants to deliver energy to the City.

At this time, the LADWP Power System is functioning normally and no fire-related outages are reported.

LADWP asks the public to help reduce all unnecessary load demand on our City’s power system and help the Department meet citywide energy needs until the threat posed by the Crown Fire diminishes.

The public and members of the media are encouraged to check the Department’s news site and Twitter page, @LADWP, for updates.