FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 11, 2012

# # #

LADWP UNVEILS NEW AND IMPROVED WEBSITE

The New www.LADWP.com Features Intuitive Layout, Self-Service Capabilities
and Offers 24/7 Service and Information About the Nation’s Largest Municipal Utility

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) today announced the launch of its new and improved official website, www.LADWP.com.

The English/Spanish bilingual site is more user-friendly and features a modern, updated design with streamlined navigation and improved self-service capabilities. Residential and commercial water and power customers can now access improved bill view and payment options, online applications for rebates and low income discounts, view electric and water consumption charts and graphs to understand their usage trends, view past bills and track service requests.

The website also features real-time neighborhood power outage maps and information and also comes in a mobile version for customers who use smart phones and other handheld devices.  

“The new www.LADWP.com features improvements in terms of appearance, ease and convenience,” said LADWP General Manager Ron Nichols. “But more importantly, users now have 24/7 access to information that can directly impact their quality of life, including neighborhood power outage maps and water and power consumption charts to help estimate future bills. Our new online presence furthers our ability to provide the high quality online customer service experiences our customers expect.”  

The new website houses detailed information on the relationship between the LADWP and the early growth of the City of Los Angeles. LADWP financial information, reports, electric and water rates, Board of Water and Power Commission agendas and community information are still readily available on the website (click “About Us”). The site also features new customer service video tutorials and information on topics such as: How to read your water and electric meters, the Low-Income Discount Program, energy and water conservation, and the “Charge Up LA” electric vehicle program.   

LADWP’s website is among the most frequented municipal websites in the nation.  First launched in 1995, nearly 200,000 users log-in to the website each month with more than 120,000 of these users viewing and paying their bill online. 

Customers can provide feedback on the new website by clicking on the “Contact Us” tab at the top of the website and then selecting “Email Us.”   

 # # #

TRAFFIC ADVISORY:  Trunk Line Project to Intermittently Reduce Coldwater Canyon to One Lane of Traffic through March 2013

Daytime drivers are encouraged take alternate routes starting May 16

LOS ANGELES — As part of construction on a major trunk line replacement project in the San Fernando Valley, LADWP crews will intermittently reduce Coldwater Canyon Avenue to one lane of traffic in an area just south of Ventura Boulevard, beginning on May 16 and lasting until approximately March 2013. During the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and occasionally on Saturday, flaggers will be on-site to coordinate traffic along Coldwater Canyon Avenue, between Halkirk Avenue and Avenida del Sol Drive, allowing one direction of traffic to pass at a time.  Each day, after work is completed, LADWP crews will restore Coldwater Canyon Avenue to two lanes of traffic with a single lane in each direction.

As Coldwater Canyon Drive narrows south of Ventura Boulevard, the intermittent lane reduction is necessary due to the location of the pipe and for construction personnel to work safely. Drivers should expect significant delays due to the reduced traffic flow and are strongly encouraged to take alternate routes. In an effort to minimize traffic impacts, LADWP has scheduled the lane reduction outside of heavy traffic hours.

Informational signage has been posted along Coldwater Canyon Avenue alerting drivers and area residents of this upcoming lane reduction. In addition, outreach has been done to inform area residents, local schools, and project stakeholders of the project’s progress and construction impacts through monthly e-mail updates.

The construction along Coldwater Canyon Avenue is part of the City Trunk Line South – Unit 5 (CTLS-5) Project, which will replace an aging trunk line built in 1914. The new trunk line, consisting of 54-inch and 60-inch diameter pipe and approximately 1.3 miles in length, will improve the reliability and flexibility of LADWP’s water distribution system, is required for compliance with federally-mandated water quality regulations. To date, 985 feet of the new 60-inch pipe have been installed. The newest segment to be installed will replace the section of the pipe that ruptured in September 2009, the largest failure of an aged water trunk line in recent LADWP history.

“We’re replacing a pipe that’s nearly 100 years old, and unfortunately, the long-term benefits of this infrastructure improvement come with short-term local traffic impacts,” said Jim McDaniel, Senior Assistant General Manager- Water System. “We’ve seen the damage aging infrastructure can cause, and we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we complete this critical water project that will improve the quality and reliability of the city’s water system.”

LADWP’s water system includes approximately 500 miles of trunk lines, which are large-diameter pipes that allow large amounts of water to be transported from one area of the city to another as needed. Construction on CTLS-5 began in June 2011 and is expected to be completed in September 2015.  Trunk lines are in addition to the over 7,000 miles of water mainline and other pipes that run under the city and provide water to Los Angeles.

As construction progresses, and when conditions change, additional community updates will be provided.

LADWP crews lower a section of new pipe during a trunk line replacement project.

###

Community Meeting Tonight in West Los Angeles
to Discuss Proposed 2-Year Power and Water Rate Changes

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) tonight will hold the seventh in a series of regional community meetings in West Los Angeles to educate and inform customers regarding proposed power and water rate changes needed over the next two years. The details for tonight’s meeting are as follows:

Thursday, May 10, 2012
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Stephen S. Wise Temple, South Taub Annex
15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive
Los Angeles 90077
RSVP
Map

The proposed rate changes are necessary to meet regulatory mandates that affect much of LADWP’s existing energy and water supplies, and to invest in replacing aging infrastructure to maintain reliability for LADWP’s 1.4 million electric customers and 657,000 water customers.

General Manager Ronald O. Nichols and LADWP Senior Managers will present the proposed power and water rate changes during the meeting, answer questions and take comments.

RSVPs are encouraged. To RSVP, please click here or call 213-367-1361.

For more information about the rate proposals, please visit www.ladwp.com and click on "Proposed 2012-14 Rates."

###

LADWP REMINDS CUSTOMERS TO CONSERVE WATER

Reduced Snowpack & Increased Water Use Call for Increased Conservation

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) today reminds customers that Mandatory Water Conservation remains in effect and urges customers to increase their water conservation efforts where possible.  Overall, water conservation in Los Angeles has been remarkable over the past five years, but recently customer use has been on the rise.

Since 2009, when Mandatory Water Conservation took effect, LADWP water customers have successfully reduced water consumption citywide by nearly 20%. Though overall water use continues to be significantly lower than it has in the past, water use in recent months has risen sharply since January. Year-to-year trends are more modest, but are still cause for concern with overall water use from July 2011 to March 2012, up nearly 3% when compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. Single-family residential customers alone have demonstrated an increase in water use of more than 5% for the same period, while multi-family residential customers are up just over 1%.

LADWP urges all customers to keep saving water, and money, by continuing to abide by Mandatory Water Conservation measures put into effect in 2009.  Reducing water use is as simple as checking sprinkler timers, checking indoors for leaky faucets and toilets, and using a hose fitted with a shut-off nozzle when watering landscape or washing your car.

“In 2011, our customers reached a per capita water usage of 123 gallons daily – the lowest in Los Angeles in more than 40 years and the currently the lowest among any U.S. city with a population over one million,” said James McDaniel, Senior Assistant General Manager, LADWP Water System. “Still, even with this remarkable achievement, recently we’ve noticed water use on the rise and with temperatures climbing and summer coming, we’re asking our customers to once again take a look at their water use and see how they can use less.”

The recent uptick in water use this fiscal year is especially concerning following a dry winter and a below-normal snowpack this year. Dry years require increased purchases of expensive imported supplies from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to supplement Los Angeles’ water supply, resulting in higher costs for customers. LADWP customers can curb the impact of the dry winter by increasing water conservation efforts to reduce the city’s overall water demand and thereby reduce the amount of purchased water needed. Since LADWP customers pay only for water used, without any fixed water charges, any additional reduction in water use will result in direct savings on their water bills compared to what they would have paid without conservation.

In June 2009, the City of Los Angeles instituted Mandatory Water Conservation, which restricted outdoor watering and prohibited certain uses of water. The outdoor watering restrictions currently in effect allow customers to use sprinklers three days a week based on their street address. Customers whose address ends with an odd number – 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 – are allowed to use sprinklers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Customers whose addresses end in even numbers - 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 – are allowed to use sprinklers on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Watering with sprinklers is allowed before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. only, regardless of the watering day, for a maximum of eight minutes per station.

Mandatory Water Conservation also places restrictions on specific water uses, which also remain in effect. Restrictions include prohibiting customers from hosing down driveways and sidewalks, requiring all leaks to be fixed, and requiring customers to use hoses fitted with shut-off nozzles only, among other measures. 

To assist customers in conserving water, LADWP offers numerous rebate programs and incentives for switching to water-efficient devices as well as tips for easy ways to reduce water use. Information on the water conservation rebates, as well comprehensive information on Mandatory Water Conservation, is available at www.ladwp.com or by calling 1-800-DIAL DWP.

###

May 3, 2012

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Launches 10 MW Solar
Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Demonstration Program
Application Period Open from May 17 to June 29

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) 10 MW Solar Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Demonstration Program will be accepting applications from Thursday, May 17, 2012 through 2 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012.

During the application period from May 17 through June 29, the LADWP solar staff will gladly assist any interested applicant with questions or concerns about the program or the application process.

Information about the program and the application process can be found on the LADWP web site at www.ladwp.com.

The FiT Team can be reach by email at FiT@ladwp.com or by phone at (213) 367-2100. The FiT Program looks forward to receiving the applications and wishes applicants good luck on their projects. The LADWP also looks to the program to assist in the goal of bringing more solar power to the City of Los Angeles.

Contacts:

FiT Team
FiT@ladwp.com
(213) 367-2100

LOS ANGELES — Type or paste your release here...

Community Meeting Tonight in East San Fernando Valley
to Discuss Proposed 2-Year Power and Water Rate Changes

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) tonight will hold the sixth in a series of regional community meetings in Van Nuys to educate and inform customers regarding proposed power and water rate changes needed over the next two years. The details for tonight’s meeting are as follows:

Thursday, May 3, 2012
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
LADWP Van Nuys Service Center
14401 Saticoy St.
Van Nuys 91405
RSVP
Map

The proposed rate changes are necessary to meet regulatory mandates that affect much of LADWP’s existing energy and water supplies, and to invest in replacing aging infrastructure to maintain reliability for LADWP’s 1.4 million electric customers and 657,000 water customers.

General Manager Ronald O. Nichols and LADWP Senior Managers will present the proposed power and water rate changes during the meeting, answer questions and take comments.

RSVPs are encouraged. To RSVP, please click here or call 213-367-1361.

For more information about the rate proposals, please click here.

###

Community Meeting Tonight in East Los Angeles
to Discuss Proposed 2-Year Power and Water Rate Changes

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) tonight will hold the fifth in a series of regional community meetings in East Los Angeles to educate and inform customers regarding proposed power and water rate changes needed over the next two years. The details for tonight’s meeting are as follows:

Wednesday, May 2, 2012
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Recreation and Parks Ramona Hall Facility
4580 N. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles 90065
RSVP
Map

The proposed rate changes are necessary to meet regulatory mandates that affect much of LADWP’s existing energy and water supplies, and to invest in replacing aging infrastructure to maintain reliability for LADWP’s 1.4 million electric customers and 657,000 water customers.

General Manager Ronald O. Nichols and LADWP Senior Managers will present the proposed power and water rate changes during the meeting, answer questions and take comments.

RSVPs are encouraged. To RSVP, please click here or call 213-367-1361.

For more information about the rate proposals, please click here.

###