Mayor Garcetti, Councilmember Blumenfield Announce
New Money-Saving DWP Incentive

Free AC Tune-Ups to begin this summer, spurred by Blumenfield motion

The new AC tune-up program will include maintenance efficiency checks for residential and commercial Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems at no cost to the ratepayer, as well as up to $150 toward the purchase and installation of cutting-edge programmable thermostats.

The new incentive program, which provides air conditioning maintenance and tune-ups free of charge, was proposed by Blumenfield and approved by the City Council last month.

“Our City is becoming more sustainable every day, because we’re committed to innovative policies that help Angelenos save energy while they save money on their utility bills,” said Mayor Garcetti. “This incentive program will make home heating and cooling upgrades more affordable for Angelenos, especially residents in the Valley where the summer heat can be so punishing. I commend Councilmember Blumenfield for his hard work making this valuable City program a reality.”

Projections suggest that the program could reduce a household’s cooling and heating costs by 30 percent, an amount likely to outweigh any rising costs from LADWP’s recently approved rate increase.

“For residents across much of Los Angeles, and especially in the Valley, air conditioning is necessity and a public health issue, not a privilege,” said Blumenfield. “Our new AC tune-up program will give residents the tools to lower their bills, reduce their energy usage, and keep cool this summer.”

Most L.A. residents use more energy heating and cooling their homes than for any other purpose; and a majority of heating and cooling units in the City are operating inefficiently. This new incentive program will help Angelenos access efficiency upgrades that will make the City more sustainable.

“As we move forward with rate adjustments, LADWP is committed to expanding money-saving programs for our customers to offset increased costs. The new Air Conditioning Tune-Up Program will help Los Angeles residents and businesses save on their electricity bills and benefit the environment,” Board of Water and Power Commissioner Jill Banks Barad said. “Expanding energy efficiency in Los Angeles is a key part of our strategy to transition to clean power resources and meet our goal of cutting energy use down 15 percent by 2020. It will also help improve power reliability during hot summer months by reducing energy consumed by inefficient air conditioners.”

System checks will include air filter replacements, outdoor coil and air flow adjustments, along with an HVAC replacement incentive. Programmable or “smart” thermostats aid customers in automatically reducing heating or cooling when it’s needed least, to further reduce bills for ratepayers. Any new energy incentive program would include a concerted outreach effort, including workshops to take place throughout the city.

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