Air conditioning unit tune-ups and upgrades to make them more energy-efficient will be offered for free by the Department of Water and Power under an incentive program announced Friday aimed at taking the sting out of recently approved utility rate hikes.
The incentives were requested by Los Angeles City Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who said it would benefit residents in his West Valley district, where air conditioning access is a concern.
“For residents across much of Los Angeles, and especially in the Valley, air conditioning is a necessity and a public health issue, not a privilege,” Blumenfield said. “Our new AC tune-up program will give residents the tools to lower their bills, reduce their energy usage and keep cool this summer.”
The incentives, which are scheduled to start July 1, will be offered for three years at an expense of about $4.5 million per year to the utility.
Blumenfield was joined by Mayor Eric Garcetti and DWP officials at a private residence in Winnetka today to announce the program.
Vendors will be chosen through a competitive bidding process to perform the AC unit work offered under the program, according to DWP spokeswoman Amanda Parsons. The program will offer energy-efficiency checkups for heating and air conditioning equipment, and also provide up to $150 toward the purchase and installation of programmable thermostats.
“This kind of innovative program furthers our commitment to a sustainable city by helping Angelenos save energy, while at the same time cutting their utility bills,” Garcetti said. “It will make home heating and cooling upgrades more affordable in L.A. — especially for residents in the Valley, where the summer heat can be punishing.”
The incentives were announced as the city is considering increases in DWP electricity and water rates. The City Council tentatively approved the hikes last week.
Under the water rate plan, the average customer will see a 4.76 percent annual increase, amounting to an additional $3 per month. A monthly bill of $57.79 for the typical residential water user would increase to an average rate of $72.90 at the end of the five-year period, according to an example in a staff report.
With the electricity rate increases, the typical single-family household in Los Angeles could see monthly electricity bills go up a total of $12 over five years.
—City News Service