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LADWP To Discuss Annual Rate Hikes Proposal At Community Meeting

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Members of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power will host a community meeting Wednesday to discuss a plan that would raise customer bills annually for the next five years.

According to LADWP officials, rate hikes are needed to pay for infrastructure to achieve water and energy conservation goals, and to improve customer service.

Potential rate hikes could present customers with a 3.4 percent increase, which equates to paying an additional $4.75 per month.

Depending on usage, customers may also face increases of as little as 2.4 percent, roughly $1.95 per month, to as high as 5.4 percent, which amounts to around $17.64 per month.

LADWP reports the company has worked to save $467 million through reductions in labor and other costs so far.

However, in order to keep up with the rising costs over the next five years, LADWP would need to bring in an additional $900 million for power service and $230 million for water service.

The plan was originally proposed on July 8.

Officials said the plan will first be considered by the Board of Water and Power commissioners. The ordinance will then be passed to the City Council and finally Mayor Eric Garcetti for approval.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the John Ferraro Building, located at 111 North Hope Street in downtown Los Angeles.

(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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