LADWP Awards $765,000 in Grants to 17 Non-profits for Conservation Outreach to Hard-to-Reach Customers

Selected Non-profits to Receive $45,000 Grants for Energy and Water Conservation Awareness.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) announced today that it has awarded $765,000 in grants to 17 local non-profit organizations to promote energy efficiency and water conservation.

The Los Angeles-based organizations will each receive a $45,000 grant to creatively reach diverse communities, encouraging them to reduce their energy and water use to benefit the environment and help lower their utility bills. The selected grant recipients will target a broad cross-section of residential and commercial customers, and are spread across all City Council districts. They will reach communities through multiple languages including English, Spanish, Armenian, Korean, and Tagalog, among others.

“LADWP has long needed to do a better job reaching non-English speaking and underserved communities and last year, with federal funding provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act we began to do just that.  We were very encouraged by the results, and this year we’ve extended the program with Department funds to build on our success and spur more of our customers to conserve power and water,” said LADWP General Manager Ronald O. Nichols.


“The conservation partnership grants are one part of a comprehensive package of energy efficiency and water conservation programs offered by LADWP and will help meet the Department’s goal of reducing energy consumption among customers by at least 10% by 2020 and further increase water conservation by customers. This year, LADWP has more than doubled its budget for energy efficiency to help more customers save power.

In the first round of the program, 32 federally-funded grants totaling $1.415 million were awarded to LA-based non-profits. These funds supported outreach projects that directly involved over 75,000 residential and business customers.  In addition, about 17,500 customers participated in more intensive workshops or training sessions.  Many of the community-based organizations that received the first-round grants in fiscal year 2011/12 now incorporate energy efficiency and water conservation into their ongoing outreach and education efforts.

This year, the program is expected to achieve similar results and will track and quantify energy and water savings achieved through the outreach.  Projects will be completed within one year.

Following is a list of this year’s grant recipients:

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Non-Profit Community Partnership Grants
2012-13 Grant Recipients:

Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Foundation

The River Project

Pacific Lodge Youth Services

The Children’s Nature Institute

Community Enhancement Services

Pacoima Beautiful

Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church

FAME Assistance Corporation

California Greenworks

Los Angeles Conservation Corps

The University Corp – Cal State Northridge

LA Community Garden Council

LAMP Community

Gang Alternatives Project

SCOPE

Green LA Coalition (Peer Facilitator)

Ballona Institute

Breaking News: LA City Council Unanimously Supports LADWP’s Federal Lawsuit to Stop the Water Waste in the Owens Valley

On November 1, 2012 LADWP announced that the Los Angeles City Council yesterday unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s lawsuit seeking to halt what LADWP alleges are excessive and unlawful regulations and costs being imposed on Los Angeles water consumers by the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (Great Basin) in the Owens Valley area of California.

According to the LADWP lawsuit, Great Basin continues to issue orders to LADWP to further expand the area of dust control beyond that which LADWP is responsible and continues to seek to fund its own operations at the expense of Los Angeles water ratepayers.

“The City Council today stood up for Los Angeles consumers, who are being unlawfully obligated to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to mitigate dust beyond that for which Los Angeles is responsible. In addition, fresh water is being wasted to reduce dust when other low-water or waterless options exist,” said LADWP General Manager Ron Nichols. “While LADWP continues to honor our obligations to protect the environment by controlling dust for which we are responsible, we simply will not stand idly by as billions of gallons of LA water are wasted at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars to our customers.”

The proposed City Council resolution states that “the City has spent more than $1.2 billion toward constructing and operating 42 square miles of dust controls and has committed to an additional 3 square miles, resulting in 45 square miles.  …[At] the completion of 45 square miles of dust controls the City will have fulfilled its mitigation obligations and illustrated LADWP’s willing interest in addressing the air quality impacts of its water gathering activities on and around Owens Lake.”

The LADWP remains committed to ongoing dust control on the 45 square miles, and seeks to use other proven means to control dust other than by wasting scarce drinking water.  LADWP has objected to orders by Great Basin to once again, expand the dust control area further, at a cost of $400 million to LADWP water customers.

“Already, nearly $10 from every $100 of the average LA resident’s water bill goes towards the work we perform at Owens Lake. This money goes to pay for the 95,000 acre feet of water per year that is poured on the lake bed – more than what is used by the entire city of San Francisco annually – there comes a time when you mast say enough is enough,” said LA City Councilmember Tony Cardenas. “Expanding this project again is an abuse of the residents of Los Angeles, especially when we consider how far they have strayed from the original agreement reached between the city and the Great Basin.”

The City Council resolution also describes various objectionable and unlawful actions by Great Basin, including “continu[ing] to issue orders to the City to control dust arising from Owens Lake in excess of the City’s agreement, causation, and legal obligation” and “unreasonably charg[ing] the City for the general costs of government and excessive costs of outside attorneys.”

The unanimous adoption of the resolution signifies that the City Council “affirms, supports and endorses the legal position and the filing of a lawsuit by the LADWP acting on behalf of water ratepayers.”

More information on this issue can be found at www.ladwp.com/OwensLake.

Source: LADWP

Cool Tips for Hot Days from LADWP on How to Stay Cool and Conserve Energy as Summer Heats Up

August 7, 2012 - LOS ANGELES, CA. With high temperatures in the forecast for the next several days in Los Angeles, LADWP offers these tips to help customers stay cool and conserve energy. Energy conservation during high temperature summer days helps prevent strain on power system infrastructure while also helping our customers save money on their power bills.

These simple tips are easy to implement in daily routines and are highly effective conservation measures:

Tips for the Home

• Adjust thermostat to 78 degrees to reduce energy usage during the hottest hours of the day when air conditioning systems have to work hardest to cool.
• 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 using your stove or oven 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 energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) wherever appropriate.
• Close draperies, shades or blinds during the heat of the day to reduce the extra heat from direct sunlight.
• Check your home for adequate insulation and for proper sealing of windows and exterior doors.
• Plant shade trees to reduce heat gain inside the house.
• Install / use ceiling fans or “whole house” fans for comfort cooling. A whole house fan will cool down your house early evenings and early mornings for a fraction of the energy cost of operating an A/C unit.
• Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize your energy savings.
• Clean or replace air-conditioner filter(s) every month to maintain efficiency and air flow.
• 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.
• When buying appliances, choose energy-saving EnergyStar-rated models.
• Limit the time you run your pool pump during summer to six hours a day, and schedule the run time to avoid operation between 1 pm and 5 pm.
• Unplug “energy vampires” like cell phone chargers, DVD players, microwave ovens and other appliances that use energy even when turned off or in sleep mode.

Tips for the Workplace

• Turn off your desk and overhead lights, and meeting room lights, if they are not needed, or install motion detector switches in each room.
• Keep personal appliance use to a minimum.
• Turn off all computer equipment when you leave the office or when they are not in use for long periods of time.
• Be sure your computer equipment goes into sleep mode when temporarily not in use.
• Go paperless when possible. Reduced printing and copying translates into reduced energy use.

LADWP Energy Conservation Rebate Programs

• Energy Star-Rated Room Air Conditioners. $50 rebate on qualifying models.
• Central Air Conditioners. $100-$120 rebate on an energy efficient model.
• Refrigerator Exchange for Low Income Customers. Qualifying low-income or Lifeline customers can receive a free energy efficient refrigerator in exchange for an old inefficient model.
• Refrigerator Turn-In and Recycle. LADWP customers who buy new Energy Star-rated refrigerators and turn in their old model for recycling can receive up to $115 in rebates.
• Whole House Fans. $200 rebate per unit.
• Energy Star-Rated Residential Window Products. Rebate of $2.00 per square foot of glass for qualifying models.
• Cool Roofs. Rebate of $0.30 per square foot.
• Pool Pump and Motor Replacements. $500 rebate on variable speed models.

For More Information

• How to apply for the above rebates, please click here.
• For energy-saving tips and programs, click here.
• The City of Los Angeles “Ready L.A.” for information on how to prepare for a heat wave.

Source:  LADWP 
Photos credit to: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Unveils new and improved official website at www.LADWP.com

The New www.LADWP.com Features Intuitive Layout, Self-Service Capabilities and Offers 24/7 Service and Information About the Nation’s Largest Municipal Utility.

On May 14, 2012 The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) today announced the launch of its new and improved official website,www.LADWP.com.

The English/Spanish bilingual site is more user-friendly and features a modern, updated design with streamlined navigation and improved self-service capabilities. Residential and commercial water and power customers can now access improved bill view and payment options, online applications for rebates and low income discounts, view electric and water consumption charts and graphs to understand their usage trends, view past bills and track service requests.

The website also features real-time neighborhood power outage maps and information and also comes in a mobile version for customers who use smart phones and other handheld devices.

“The new www.LADWP.com features improvements in terms of appearance, ease and convenience,” said LADWP General Manager Ron Nichols. “But more importantly, users now have 24/7 access to information that can directly impact their quality of life, including neighborhood power outage maps and water and power consumption charts to help estimate future bills. Our new online presence furthers our ability to provide the high quality online customer service experiences our customers expect.”

The new website houses detailed information on the relationship between the LADWP and the early growth of the City of Los Angeles. LADWP financial information, reports, electric and water rates, Board of Water and Power Commission agendas and community information are still readily available on the website (click “About Us”). The site also features new customer service video tutorials and information on topics such as: How to read your water and electric meters, the Low-Income Discount Program, energy and water conservation, and the “Charge Up LA” electric vehicle program.

LADWP’s website is among the most frequented municipal websites in the nation.  First launched in 1995, nearly 200,000 users log-in to the website each month with more than 120,000 of these users viewing and paying their bill online.

Customers can provide feedback on the new website by clicking on the “Contact Us” tab at the top of the website and then selecting “Email Us.”

The new www.LADWP.com is part of a major initiative to improve the quality of the customer experience. The initiative will address specific process, organizational and technology improvements in customer service, including replacement of the LADWP’s 30+ year old Customer Information System (CIS).

To read the original press release visit http://www.ladwpnews.com/go/doc/1475/1430887/

 # # #

Editor’s Note: We tried the website today on June 13, 2012 and we can say that at the beginning we were not sure why we need to update our password and security questions but, then later it was easy to navigate, pay our power bill, even shows the bill been populated instantly via PDF. Congrats to LADWP staff on this huge improvement with your customers.

LADWP to Hold Community Meetings to Discuss Proposed 2-Year Power & Water Rate Changes on April 25-May 10th

Legal Mandates and Aging Infrastructure
Driving Need for Rate Increases;
Seven Regional Meetings Slated April 25-May 10

On Thursday, April 19, 2012 The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) will hold a series of community meetings throughout the city beginning April 25 to educate and inform customers regarding proposed power and water rate changes needed over the next two years.

The proposed changes are necessary to meet a series of regulatory mandates that affect much of LADWP’s existing energy and water supplies, and to invest in replacing aging infrastructure to maintain reliability for LADWP’s 1.4 million electric customers and 657,000 water customers.

General Manager Ronald O. Nichols and LADWP Senior Managers will present the proposed power and water rate changes during the upcoming meetings, answer questions and take comments. “We began a conversation last summer regarding the fundamental reasons why LADWP needs to increase water and power rates,” Nichols said. “A lot has happened in the past year; legal mandates that were unclear have come into focus. Aging equipment has gotten older and deferred costs are mounting. A ratepayer advocate has been appointed and is at work reviewing these proposals.”

The proposed rate change is most critical for power. Legal mandates are driving the need to rebuild or replace over 70 percent of LADWP’s existing energy resources and generation. In the next 10 to 15 years, LADWP will need to expand renewable energy to 33 percent of the power provided to customers; transition out of coal generation and replace it with a mix of renewable energy, natural gas and expanded energy efficiency measures; and rebuild aging generating units at three coastal natural gas power plants.

The power rate proposal requests a 4.6% increase beginning July 1, 2012 and 5.9% effective July 1, 2013 for a total of 10.5% over 2 years, an increase to the current average rate of 1.4 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). For the typical residential customer, using 500 kWh, this would add $3.35 per month to their current $65.79 monthly bill.

The proposed power rates will also fund new investments in energy efficiency programs, as a way to mitigate the potential bill impacts. Energy efficiency is also a cost-effective way to meet environmental mandates and improve reliability.

On the water side, the Water Quality Factor adjustment approved earlier this year–$0.35 per billing unit (748 gallons) for mandated drinking water quality improvements–enables LADWP to defer consideration of an additional water rate action until later this year.

In fiscal year 2012/13, customers will see an automatic adjustment for purchased water when the price is adjusted in late Spring. An additional increase of about ½ percent is planned, as part of rate adjustments that require Board of Water and Power Commissioners action only, to support continued development of local water supply programs. These include water conservation, recycled water, stormwater capture, and groundwater cleanup—all of which reduce reliance on imported and purchased water.

For fiscal year 2013/14, LADWP is proposing a 4.6% water rate increase effective July 1, 2013, excluding the cost of purchased water, to invest further in pipeline and related infrastructure replacement, local water supply programs and additional water quality investments that are part of $1.1 billion required for water quality compliance. Nichols stressed that while action on the request was not needed immediately, the increase needs approval this year to allow time to approve the necessary construction and related water quality improvement contracts and hire and train pipeline replacement crew members.

Following are the dates and locations for the regional meetings. In addition, LADWP is planning to hold additional online webinars and meetings that will be announced in the near future.

RSVP’s for the community meeting are encouraged, but not required.  To RSVP, please click on the link below each meeting, or call 213-367-1361.

Harbor:
Wednesday, April 25, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Salon A
601 S. Palos Verdes St.
San Pedro 90731
RSVP

West Valley:
Thursday, April 26, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
22617 Ventura Blvd.
Woodland Hills 91367
RSVP

Metro:
Saturday, April 28, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
LADWP John Ferraro Building Headquarters
111 N. Hope St., A Level
Los Angeles 90012
RSVP

South L.A.:
Monday, April 30, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
LADWP Crenshaw Service Center
4030 Crenshaw Blvd.
Los Angeles 90008
RSVP

East L.A.:
Wednesday, May 2, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Recreation and Parks Ramona Hall
4580 N. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles 90065
RSVP

East Valley:
Thursday, May 3, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
LADWP Van Nuys Service Center
14401 Saticoy St.
Van Nuys 91405
RSVP

West L.A.:
Thursday, May 10, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Stephen S. Wise Temple, South Taub Annex
15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive
Los Angeles 90077
RSVP

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Source: LADWP News Room
Graphic credit to: LADWP News Room

Southern California Gas Company Warns Customers About Potential Payment Scam

As of Thursday, January 19, 2012 the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) is warning customers to be aware of an ongoing wire fraud that could potentially reach SoCalGas customers.  The fraudulent activity has been reported on the East Coast and at this time there are no indications that SoCalGas customers have been targeted.

Utilities on the East Coast have reported that individuals misrepresenting themselves as utility employees are calling customers and threatening to turn off electric and gas service if payment is not made to them that day.  Utility customers, primarily in the Hispanic community, have been told that payment must be made by purchasing a pre-pay credit card, and are directed to another phone number where information is then obtained from the card and the cash value is removed from the card or the permanent card is registered in another name and redirected.

“Although there have not yet been reports of this fraudulent activity in southern California, we want to alert our customers in an effort to prevent them from becoming potential victims,” said Michael Schneider, vice president of customer operations at SoCalGas.  “We advise customers to be alert and not to provide any type of financial information if they receive a call from a suspicious company.”

SoCalGas does not proactively contact customers to ask for credit card information over the phone, said Schneider.  The utility provides past due notices in writing before service is shut-off for non-payment.  Additionally, all SoCalGas employees on company business are required to carry a photo ID badge.  When customers call SoCalGas for billing inquiries, employees will always be able to provide account information and the exact past due balance. If customers receive a phone call that makes them feel uncomfortable, they should hang up and call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 or 1-800-342-4545 in Spanish, or the local authorities to file a report.

About Southern California Gas Co.:
Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 140 years.  It is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 20.9 million consumers connected through nearly 5.8 million meters in more than 500 communities.  The company’s service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border.  SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE).

Sources: http://www.socalgas.com, PRNewswire
Photo graphic credit to: www.socalgas.com

BREAKING NEWS: High Winds; Southern California Power Outage Update

On Thursday, December 1, 2011 The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) reported that approximately 130,000 of its 1.4 million electric customers are without power as high winds continue to cause outages in several neighborhoods.

Approximately 127,000 of these customers are located in the Los Angeles Metro Area and the remaining 3,000 are in the San Fernando Valley. Power has already been restored to more than 80,000 customers since  the wind storm began last night.

LADWP currently has over 100 crews responding to over 1,000 separate incidents and has called in crews from out of state and from other remote areas in the State of California to assist in restoration efforts.

LADWP crews are working in extremely dangerous conditions to restore power and are working as quickly and safely as possible to do so.  At this time, the current estimated time of restoration for customers experiencing outages is 24 – 48 hours. Many customers will experience shorter outages, but customers experiencing outages should be prepared for up to 24 – 48 hours.  LADWP asks for the patience of our customers as we work around the clock to restore service during this major wind storm.

The following areas and neighborhoods have the highest number of customers impacted:

SOUTH
South Los Angeles: 6,500
Green Meadows: 5,500
Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw: 2,400

CENTRAL/DOWNTOWN
East Hollywood: 7,500
Hollywood Hills: 5,300
Los Feliz: 5,100
Hollywood: 4,400
Chinatown: 1,700

EASTSIDE/NORTHEAST
Highland Park: 12,800
El Sereno: 11,300
Glassell Park: 9,800
Cypress Park: 9,300
Eagle Rock: 2,800
Griffith Park: 5,200
Boyle Heights: 3,800
Lincoln Heights: 3,000

VALLEY
Van Nuys – 2,100

LADWP strongly encourages the public to be vigilant and cautious to stay safe during this storm. Stay away from any downed power lines and poles as well as downed trees and limbs, and protect children home from school today from the same. Beware of traffic signals that may be affected by power outage and proceed with extreme caution. Allow access for uniformed LADWP crews, all of whom carry Department-issued identification cards, so they may service infrastructure in need of repair.

In the event of a power outage:

• Stay calm.
• Have a flashlight and extra batteries nearby. Don’t use candles in a power outage.
• Turn off lights but leave one light turned on so you will know when your service is restored.
• Turn off and unplug appliances and other electrical equipment. Unplug heat-producing items like irons and space heaters. This helps prevent circuit overloading, which could delay restoration of service.
• Call us and report your outage at 1-800-DIAL DWP (1-800-342-5397).

If you encounter a downed power line:

• Report any downed power lines immediately by calling the LADWP at 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397). If you or someone else is in danger, call 911.
• Do not touch a downed or dangling wire or anyone or anything in contact with it. Always assume a downed line is still energized.
• If a power line falls on your car, stay in the car and wait for help. If you must get out, make sure you do not touch the metal parts of the car and the ground at the same time. The safest exit method is to open the door, stand on the door sill and jump free without touching the car.
• Stay away from metal fences, such as chain link fence, as there may be a power line down and touching the fence somewhere beyond your sight.
• If there is damage to the connection from the power pole to your house, you should go to the electrical box and turn off the main switch or shut off the fuse switch. Again, always assume electric lines are live.
• In case of an electrical emergency, stay calm and think before you act. Don’t become a victim while trying to help others. Call 911.
• If someone is shocked or not breathing, apply cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR.) Then cover the victim with a blanket, keep their head low and get medical attention.

Source: LADWP Public Affairs
Photo credit to:  LADWP Public Affairs