Fact Check Thanks KABC for On-Air Correction of Water Rate Increase Story

On the November 16, 2011 broadcast of Eyewitness News 5PM, KABC included a story on a proposed water rate increase intended to help the Department meet the costs of major projects to comply with drinking water quality mandates set forth by federal and state regulators. KABC based its report on erroneous information that ran in that day's Los Angeles Daily News which stated that LADWP would raise water rates by $5 to offset a decrease in revenue that stemmed from our customers' success at water conservation.

KABC righted its error during the November, 17, 2011 broadcast of Eyewitness News 5PM with the following correction:

"We need to clarify a story on a proposed fee increase involving L.A.'s Department of Water and Power. We reported customers were facing a five dollar rate increase because DWP was losing money thanks to customers conserving water. Well, the DWP says the proposed fee increase is actually for federal compliance for clean water. Officials say the increase is small and will cover federally mandated projects with strict deadlines like removing the Silver Lake and Ivanhoe reservoirs from service. DWP says it has $600 million in costs that have to be paid in the next six months to continue work on those reservoirs. And DWP also points out that because of last year's snowpack, water rates - even with a small increase - are lower than they were a year ago."

LADWP thanks KABC for correcting the mistake and for making the effort to report correctly on a story that is of interest to large portion of its audience, our customers within the City of Los Angeles.

A complete story on the proposal, along with a Department presentation on this issue, can be viewed by clicking here.

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