Mayor lobbies for DWP plan

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa launched an intense lobbying effort Friday to win support for a proposed Department of Water and Power rate increase as the City Council began reviewing the plan. "I welcome a vigorous debate," Villaraigosa said during an impromptu news conference in City Hall.Daily News.

"A year ago when the council said they wanted an independent study of the rate hike that was proposed then, I agreed. Well, now we have that study and it's time to act."

The board of Water and Power Commissioners on Thursday approved the first of what would be four increases in the Energy Cost Adjustment Factor. Bills will go up by 6 percent initially, and could increase by as much as 28 percent for some users if additional planned increases are approved.

"I say, just say no," Councilman Dennis Zine said. "This is absolutely the wrong time to be raising any fees on residents."