Council to review DWP rate hike

Saying they felt strong-armed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's threat of imminent bankruptcy, angry City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to seize jurisdiction over proposed DWP rate hikes set to take effect next week.

The proposed hikes -- which could ultimately increase power bills by between 6 percent and 28 percent, depending on consumption - were approved last week by the DWP Commission, sparking outrage from customers, consumer groups and neighborhood associations. Villaraigosa had hoped to receive the same easy acceptance from the council but instead was met with ire.

"Don't put a gun to our heads and don't tell us that the quickest way to bankruptcy is to approve this," said council President Eric Garcetti, adding the council needed to take some time to review the proposal.