DWP board approves electricity rate hike

It's the 4.8% increase the City Council wanted, not the higher rate that Mayor Villaraigosa originally sought and that the DWP commission tried to force through last time. For the average residential customer it only will mean a few bucks more on their bill, but Matt Szabo, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff, said the higher rate ensures that the DWP will be able to transfer $73 million to city coffers to help defray the budget deficit. LAT, DN

Also: The Coalition of L.A. City Unions has offered a plan it says would avoid layoffs and still cut $432 million from the city budget, but it requires a freeze in LAPD hiring, higher fees for city services and more early retirement of city workers. Szabo called the coalition's numbers overly optimistic.