DWP Audit Targets Annual $90M Electricity Bill For LAUSD
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Department of Water and Power officials are conducting an audit of the Los Angeles Unified School District's huge electricity bill.
KNX 1070's Vytas Safronikas reports the DWP announced its plans to review the $90 million bill while refusing requests to lower the school district's utility rates.
Podcast
Utility officials will focus the review on the "Dirty 30" — the district's biggest energy-guzzling campuses — in its effort to shrink costs for the nation's second-largest school district.
LAUSD facilities chief Kelly Schmader ranked the "Dirty 30" list according to energy usage per square foot on the district's campuses and buildings.
The DWP will prioritize their efforts to start with the most problematic campuses — which include El Camino Real High School and the West Valley Occupational Center in Woodland Hills — along with over a half-dozen other San Fernando Valley facilities, said school board member Tamar Galatzan.
"The DWP has offered to come out and walk through those campuses with LAUSD facility staff and really trying to figure out some ways that the district can use some of our bond dollars that can only be used for facilities," said Galatzan.
The audit comes after the City Council approved a 3 percent rate hike for water usage back in February.
