Eric Garcetti announced Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s (LADWP) new ‘Cool LA’ initiative – a program that will increase rebates for energy efficient air conditioners from $75 to $225 for low-income customers.
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The Mayor also announced a new level-pay billing program that will allow customers to spread their utility payments evenly over a 12 month period.
“The impacts of the climate emergency are on our doorstep, and as we continue our work to make Los Angeles a carbon-neutral city, we can’t wait to bring solutions to people on the front lines of this crisis today,†said Mayor Garcetti.
“Cool LA will bring needed relief from the heat to over a quarter million of our most vulnerable Angelenos – and is the latest step in our work to ensure communities bearing the brunt of climate change get immediate support.â€
Through Cool LA, income-eligible LADWP customers who purchase window, room, and portable air conditioners will receive an increased rebate of $225. All other LADWP customers will continue to be eligible for a $75 rebate for room air conditioners.
Eligibility will be largely income based, although seniors and physically disabled Angelenos are encouraged to check their eligibility at ladwp.com/cool-la.
Nearly 300 different efficient AC units are eligible for the rebate. Roughly 237,000 Angelenos are expected to be eligible for the program, and LADWP will be partnering with community-based organizations, including Pacoima Beautiful, to raise awareness about Cool LA and help increase program participation.
The new level-pay program will be available to all LADWP customers to help them better budget utility bills during the hotter months. Once customers sign up, level-pay will estimate a set monthly utility bill amount based on their historical usage, so customers don’t need to worry about summer months when bills tend to be higher from increased electricity use.
Customers can sign up on the Cool LA website.
Cool LA is the latest step in Los Angeles’ work to help residents manage the impacts of the climate crisis in the short-term. Mayor Garcetti’s Cool Neighborhoods L.A. program, which brings cooling strategies such as street trees, cool pavement, and shade structures at transit stops, has now been rolled out in 13 of Los Angeles’ hottest and most vulnerable communities.
Mayor Garcetti has also led the city to put down 108 lane miles of cool pavement – the most of any American city – in L.A.’s hottest communities; install over 63,000 cool roofs through the first-of-its-kind Cool Roof Ordinance; and plant over 65,000 trees in the last three years. ■