Supervisors Pull Plug on Edison Discount Plan

County supervisors unanimously agreed Tuesday to terminate county participation in a Southern California Edison program that gives discounts to large electricity customers that agree to cut power usage in times of high demand.

The county paid $12 million over the last year for lights, air-conditioning and heating at more than 220 buildings. With power costs rising, the penalties levied against the county for not reducing usage have been greater than the savings from the discounted rates, said Vicki L. Wilson, director of the county’s public works facilities.

If the county failed to respond to each interruption order, it could accrue $420,600 in penalties this year, Wilson said. Meanwhile, anticipated savings by remaining in the program were only $30,700.