WEST HOLLYWOOD : City Joins Battle to Lower Electric Bills
The city has joined the Southern California Joint Powers Consortium, a grass-roots group that has banded together to fight for lower electric rates.
The City Council approved the plan with a unanimous vote. The other cities in the consortium include Carson, Culver City, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lomita and Redondo Beach.
As a member of the group, the city will be able to lobby more effectively with the Public Utilities Commission on behalf of residents, said Jim Sweeney, deputy to West Hollywood Councilman Sal Guarriello. “Also, we’re participating in the consortium to see what else we could consolidate with other cities.”
The consortium, which has been meeting since September, has a two-phase plan.
First on their agenda is a demand that Edison lower its rates by 25%. So far, the cities have had no luck in getting Edison to agree to their request. However, the power giant has expressed interest in meeting with the group, said Culver City Councilman Albert Vera, who has been the force behind the consortium.
If the utilities commission decides to deregulate the industry--and many believe it will--consortium members plan to buy power in bulk at lower cost. The PUC is considering the matter.
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