Council OKs Subsidies for Utility Bills of Poor
The Los Angeles City Council this week approved subsidies that could trim about $6.75 each month from utility bills of low-income residents.
Water payments from disadvantaged families could be cut by $1.98 each month, power by $3.75 and sewer service by $1.02 under the plan, which must be approved by Mayor Tom Bradley. The subsidies would take effect 30 days after Bradley signs the ordinances.
Other customers would see an increase of less than 1% in their bills to make up the difference, a city analyst said.
More than 340,000 households could be eligible for the subsidies. Almost 100,000 other customers who are elderly or disabled already receive “Lifeline” subsidies that are even larger. Those on the “Lifeline” program will not be able to apply for the new program.
Combined, households eligible for help with utility bills would amount to more than a third of the nearly 1.2 million Department of Water and Power customers.
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