Statement by Austin Beutner, General Manager, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power:
"I am very encouraged by the productive discussions that have taken place this week," said Austin Beutner, LADWP General Manager.  "A tremendous amount of progress was made after a series of discussions with senior staff of the State Water Board and the LADWP team this week.  As a result, at this time we will focus our efforts to resolve this matter with the Water Board rather than through the legislature.  The joint efforts are leading toward a balanced solution -- a solution which minimizes costs and achieves the objectives of the new OTC policy.  LADWP will be making investments in the near term to improve our power system reliability, transition away from coal and increase the mix of renewable energy.  It is critical that our plans to reduce impacts to the ocean from once-through-cooling systems be cost effective.  We appreciate the hard work of the State Water Board staff and look forward to swiftly and successfully resolving this matter."
 
Statement by Mark Gold, President, Heal the Bay:
"Heal the Bay is extremely encouraged that the LADWP has undertaken promising negotiations with the state Water Board" said organization President, Mark Gold.  "We are pleased to have been working closely with LADWP and the State to come up with a cost effective compliance plan that will protect marine life and comply with state policy."

Background:
California has been reviewing and developing a statewide policy pursuant to the Federal Clean Water Act to reduce the impacts of the once through cooling technology used by some power plants.  The LADWP has been working with many stakeholders involved to carefully craft a balanced statewide policy.  This is a complex issue that must address environmental objectives and costs for customers, while also ensuring power reliability.  The LADWP just released its new draft long-term energy resource plan for public review and comment.  In the near and long term LADWP will be making investments to ensure a reliable power supply, reduce its reliance on coal and to pursue environmental objectives, including reducing impacts from the use of OTC.  It is important that the statewide OTC policy allow LADWP to continue effectively pursuing these goals.

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LOS ANGELES — As Los Angeles braces for another hot day, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reminds customers to conserve energy use where possible today, while staying safe.

The energy demand reached 5670 megawatts Wednesday and is expected to match, and potentially exceed, that level today with highs exceeding 100 degrees for the third straight day in the San Fernando Valley.  Any time energy demand approaches this level, it is wise to implement active conservation to prevent overtaxing electrical infrastructure from that serves Los Angeles day in and day out.  Conservation is recommended only where doing so does not jeopardize anyone's health or safety.

Following are simple tips our customers can use to reduce their power consumption:

Tips for the Home:

• Adjust thermostat to 78 degrees or more to reduce energy usage.
• Limit the use of appliances during peak hours of the day--use washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and other heavy appliances during evening hours.
• Try to avoid cooking during peak hours of the day since it will add to the heat inside the home.
• Ventilate your home at night and early morning by opening windows and doors to clear out the heat and allow cooler air to circulate.
• Turn off lights and equipment when they are not in use.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) wherever appropriate.
• During the heat of day, close your draperies, shades, or blinds to reduce the extra heat from direct sunlight and check your home for adequate insulation.
• Plant shade trees, to reduce heat gain to the house.
• Install/use whole house fans for comfort cooling. The whole house fan will cool down your house early evenings and early mornings for a fraction of the energy cost of an A/C unit.
• Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize your energy savings.
• Clean or replace your air-conditioner's filter(s) every month to keep your air-conditioner running more efficiently.
• Regularly brush or vacuum the condenser coils at the bottom or rear of your refrigerator and check door gasket for tight fit and adjust if necessary.
• Buy energy-saving EnergyStar-labeled appliances.
• Limit the time you run your pool pump: Summer (six hours a day), Winter (four hours a day.)

Tips for the Workplace:

• Turn off your desk and overhead lights, and meeting room lights, if they are not needed, or install motion detectors switch for each room.
• Keep personal appliance use to minimum.
• Turn off all computer equipment when you leave the office or when they are not being used.
• Be sure your computer equipment goes into the sleep mode when not in use. (80% savings in energy use)
• Go paperless when possible. Reduced printing and copying translates into reduced energy use.

Other LADWP programs to help save money and energy include:

• Customers seeking to cool off by purchasing a room air conditioner, LADWP offers a $50 rebate on a qualifying EnergyStar-rated model. Customers considering installing central air conditioner can receive $100 on an energy efficient model.
• Consumer Rebate Programs: In addition to air conditioning units described above, customers can receive rebates on other energy efficient devices, including pool pump and motor replacements ($300), dual pane windows ($1.00 per square foot), and EnergyStar refrigerators ($65.)
• Refrigerator Exchange: Qualifying low-income or Lifeline customers can receive a free energy efficient refrigerator in exchange for an old energy-wasting model.
• Refrigerator Recycle: LADWP customers who turn in and recycle their old, inefficient refrigerators can earn a $35 cash rebate in addition to the $65 rebate for the new unit.
• Shade Trees: Cool off your home and help reduce storm-water runoff by planting more trees. LADWP residential and business customers can receive up to seven free shade trees.

Customers can log on to www.LADWP.com to learn more about energy saving programs and rebates.

The public and members of the media are encouraged to check the Department’s news site and Twitter page, @LADWP, for updates.

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LOS ANGELES — Changes to the City of Los Angeles' Water Conservation Ordinance went into effect today for Los Angeles City residents and businesses, allowing LADWP customers to water with sprinklers up to three days per week. Customers whose street addresses end with an odd number – 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 – are permitted to use their sprinkler systems on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Customers whose addresses end in even numbers – 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 are permitted to do so on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.  Addresses ending in fractions are treated as whole numbers and observe the same day restrictions as others on their same side of the street, (ie: 4321 ½ is regarded as 4321, an odd-numbered address.)

Sprinkler time limits are based on the type of nozzle used.  Spray head sprinklers and bubblers, which are non-conserving models and are common in most landscapes, are allowed up to 8 minutes per watering station per day. Rotors and multi-stream rotary heads are allowed 15 minutes per cycle and up to two cycles per day per watering station. Watering with sprinklers is restricted to hours before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m., regardless of the watering day.

All other prohibited uses of water, which include prohibiting hosing down driveways and sidewalks and water runoff, requiring all leaks be fixed and only using hoses fitted with shut-off nozzles, remain in effect.   Hand-watering using garden hoses fitted with shut-off nozzle devices is permissible any day of the week before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m.

The changes to the Ordinance were approved by the Board of Water and Power Commissioners on July 22.  The Los Angeles City Council approved the revisions on August 18 and the Mayor signed them into law on Monday.

Educational awareness efforts, and enforcement where applicable, will continue to be conducted by the LADWP Water Conservation Team, whose members actively patrol Los Angeles communities to help inform customers of water waste they observe in progress and learn about through tips from neighbors and concerned residents who call 1-800-DIAL DWP or send e-mails to waterconservationteam@ladwp.com. 

In an effort to help our customers save water and money, LADWP offers a rebate on water conserving sprinkler nozzles of up to $8 per nozzle.  The Department offers numerous other rebate programs and incentives for switching to water efficient devices and tips for easy ways to reduce water use. This information, as well as comprehensive information on the new watering schedules and the prohibited uses of water, is all available at www.ladwp.com.

Customers may apply for a Hardship Variance from specific Ordinance requirements, including customers in designated High Fire Severity Zones. Variance Instructions and Forms are available online at www.ladwp.com/waterconservation and at all LADWP Service Center locations. For more information, call 213-367-0771.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation's largest municipal utility, provides reliable, low-cost water and power services to Los Angeles residents and businesses in an environmentally responsible manner. LADWP serves about 1.4 million electric customers and 680,000 water customers in Los Angeles.