LOS ANGELES (CNS) – An increase in electric rates for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers is a bit closer to reality today.

The Los Angeles Board of Water And Power Commissioners Wednesday approved a two-year rate hike that would increase the DWP’s system average rate by 11.1 percent, or 1.4 cents per kilowatt-hour, over two years.

Residential customers who use less than 500 kilowatt hours per month would see an increase of 5.5 percent over two years and pay $3.65 more on the current average monthly electric bill of $65.79 in the second year of the increase.

The rate increase would allow the DWP to comply with legal mandates for reduced energy consumption, increased renewable energy use and the elimination of ocean water use at coastal power plants, according to a department statement.

It would also facilitate infrastructure improvements and an expansion of efficiency incentives, according to the department.

“It is never easy to raise our customers’ rates, but the department has made the case that these investments are needed to comply with legal mandates and to invest in replacing aging infrastructure that is essential to maintaining reliable service to our customers,” said board President Thomas Sayles.

The rate increase requires the approval of the Los Angeles City Council.

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