Today I’m opening the mailbag to share comments from Valley residents about the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and its proposed five-year rate hike of 25-30 percent:
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“The DWP needs to tighten their belts before they ask us for more money.”
“Cutbacks on the least important actions or redundancies should come first before asking for more money. That is how any true business would work.”
“The 8 percent of its gross revenues going to L.A. city treasury boggles the mind.”
“I find this so offensive. … It feels as though DWP is punishing me by increasing the rates because I am using less water. Why can’t the DWP employees take a 5 or 10 percent pay decrease in their salaries or be furloughed for 1 day per 2 week schedule, or maybe lay off a few employees — at least until the drought is over. This is not the time for DWP or the City Council or unions to be greedy at the expense of consumers/constituents.”
“We just celebrated our 50th anniversary and have lived in our Porter Ranch home for over 41 years. Our home is one-story, under 1,500 square feet, no pool and a now-brown lawn because of the drought. We try to avoid using the air conditioning or leave it at no lower than 78 degrees — sometimes 80. However, our DWP bills range from $350 to $400 in the winter to over $850 in the summer. We simply cannot afford those bills now and would be devastated if they were to go even higher. We don’t want to have to choose between turning off the air conditioner to afford our mortgage and medical bills or losing our home where we raised our family.”
“Prior to the installation of the 2nd meter, my domestic water usage was calculated and averaged more than 5 times my true usage. I’m certain that anyone who has not installed a 2nd meter is being inaccurately (almost fraudulently) charged more than 5 times what they are responsible for.”
“It seems like the DWP pays a far greater salary than the private sector and gets better retirement benefits, too. Something is wrong here.”
“The DWP should be run like a corporation, not a cozy club.”
“The DWP should be replaced with a new organization that places great value on keeping spending tight, watching everyone’s overtime, and eliminate waste and fraud. So far, the DWP has proven that it lacks leadership that responds to ratepayers, yet has policies that empower the employees.”
“Roll back all senior level DWP management salaries 10%. Appoint an independent auditing committee to oversee exactly what some of these positions are within the DWP structure and do away with the vast majority of them.”
“For the past four years, I have taken many measures in cutting back on my water usage but I continue to have extremely high bills. I have called DWP 3 times asking for an inspection and have been told that they don’t have time.”
“The DWP replaced our water meter, and the next bill was for $3,277.93!”
“NO matter what the citizens are doing to ‘save the planet,’ the more we do, the more we are punished for our complying with the requests.”
“That there is about $230 million of overcharging being sent to the City is a travesty. Of course, we get to pay a 10% City tax on that overcharging, so it is only compounded. Our DWP should not be a taxing authority!”
“I have been so upset with the excessive spending and loss of funds that have happened with the DWP, and now for them to have the nerve to say they must raise our bills. Why can’t they eliminate some of their unnecessary “management analysts” or reduce some of their outlandish salaries?”
“Giving money to the city of Los Angeles is outrageous … how did this happen??”
“We have lost two pine trees because of not watering in this drought. No rewards for conservation! Higher ‘taxes’ instead. Private business would tighten belt, but our government is increasing salaries!”
“The accumulated effects of continued cost increases and tax hikes are forcing me to leave the state.”
“In my opinion, DWP is nothing but a bloated, redundant, multilayered bureaucracy with little accountability.”
“I am sick & tired of additional fees, taxes, costs, gouging, etc.”
“Could you interview the DWP ‘Ratepayer Advocate,’ Fred Pickel? The public would like to know what he has been doing.”
Email your comments to me at the address below — everyone’s voice should be heard.
Susan Shelley is a San Fernando Valley author, a former television associate producer and twice a Republican candidate for the California Assembly. Reach her at Susan@SusanShelley.com, or follow her on Twitter: @Susan_Shelley.
This happened many years ago and they said the same thing. We are using less water but they need the money to pay employees. They want us to use less water so we can pay more. Same with gas. Forced to drive less so now they want to charge more to gain their revenues. They will never take responsibility for their inaction. It’s not right but who can you go to? Not many regular people have the money to take this state to court.
California voters put that criminal jerry brown back in office…what the hell did you think was going to happen????????????????
WE have the government that we voted into office. When was the last time YOU got physically involved and helped elect a CONSERVATIVE?