LADWP Customer Energy Consumption to Set
2007 Record as Heat Wave Hits City
Heat Wave Prompts Angelenos to Power Up, Prompting Officials
to Urge Residents to Conserve Energy, Save Money,
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
LOS ANGELES – As the Summer’s first heat wave hits Southern California, and with temperatures expected to soar past 100 degrees in the San Fernando Valley through the Independence Day Holiday, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) today will generate and deliver 5300 megawatts of power to its customers – more energy to Angelenos than any other day this year, prompting officials to remind and encourage residents and businesses to reduce their energy consumption.
“As temperatures rise and customer demand for power increases, we are urging our customers to look at ways they can save energy,” DWP General Manager Ron Deaton said. “There are a lot of good reasons to reduce energy consumption. Not only does it reduce demand on the power system, but it also saves money and helps protect the environment. Every dollar our customers save through energy conservation is a dollar worth of energy we don’t have to produce and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.”
With hot weather expected to continue through the rest of the week, DWP officials also assured customers that the Department has crews ready to respond in the event of any localized power outages. Officials also urged customers to keep hold of Mylar balloons, which have resulted in power outages affecting over 15,000 customers in the past two weeks.
As temperatures continue to rise, customer demand for energy is expected to escalate prompting LADWP to urge customers to cut back on their power consumption by using the following tips and participating in the numerous DWP energy efficiency programs:
Tips and Steps to Reduce Energy Use
There are a variety of things you can do to lower your utility bills. Listed below are some of the most effective ways to help you conserve energy, trim costs and gain control over energy usage.
FOR THE HOME
• Adjust thermostat to 78 degrees to reduce energy usage.
• Limit the use of appliances during peak hours of the day-use washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and other heavy appliances during evening hours.
• Try to avoid cooking during peak hours of the day since it will add to the heat inside the home.
• Ventilate your home at night by opening windows and doors to clear out the heat and allow cooler air to circulate.
• Turn off lights and equipment when they are not in use.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) wherever appropriate.
• During the heat of day, close your draperies, shades, or blinds to reduce the extra heat from direct sunlight and check your home for adequate insulation.
• Plant shade trees, to reduce heat gain to the house.
• Install / Use Ceiling fans or whole House fans for comfort cooling.
• Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize your energy savings.
• Clean or replace your air-conditioner’s filter(s) every month to keep your air-conditioner running more efficiently.
• Regularly brush or vacuum the condenser coils at the bottom or rear of your refrigerator and check door gasket for tight fit and adjust if necessary.
• Buy energy-saving “Energy Star” labeled appliances.
Limit the time you run your pool pump: Summer (six hours a day), Winter (four hours a day)
FOR THE OFFICE
• Turning off your desk and overhead lights, and meeting room lights, if they are not needed.
• Keep personal appliance use to minimum.
• Turn off all computer equipment when you leave the office or when they are not being used.
• Be sure your computer equipment goes into the sleep mode when not in use. (80% savings in energy use)
• Go paperless when possible. Reduced printing and copying translates into reduced energy use.
Promote “casual Friday dress” as a means of raising the cooling settings on thermostats.
ENERGY AND MONEY SAVING PROGRAMS
LADWP provides a wide array of energy efficiency programs and services for its residential customers. The LADWP Energy Conservation Residential programs have, since 2000, achieved annual energy savings of more than 76 million kilowatt-hours. This is enough saved energy to power 10,000 homes for a year. Click here for more information.
Consumer Rebate Program (CRP) The Consumer Rebate Program is designed to both educate and encourage LADWP residential customers to purchase qualifying Energy Star TM projects, such as refrigerators, air-conditioners, and other energy-saving products for the home.
The LADWP offers cash rebates to customers who purchase qualifying equipment. More than 10,000 residential customers receive rebates annually.
Program literature and applications are available at retail outlets and through the LADWP website, www.ladwp.com/crp, at LADWP Customer Service Centers, by mail and by calling 1-800-GreenLA.
Refrigerator Recycling Program (RETIRE) Refrigerators are the often the biggest user of home energy and realizing the potential for significant energy savings, the LADWP provides refrigerator recycling for its residential customers. The program encourages customers to give up older, spare and inefficient refrigerators for recycling in an environmentally sound manner. LADWP provides this service at no cost to the customer and encourages participation by offering free compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) as an incentive. Typically, in excess of 4,000 refrigerators are recycled annually, saving customers energy and money.
Trees for a Green LA (TFGLA) The LADWP, in cooperation with the Million Tree Initiative encourages its residential customers to reduce their air conditioning bills and the negative environmental impact of the “heat island effect” by planting shade trees to shade their homes and air conditioners. Qualifying customers can receive up to 7 free shade trees by taking an on-line workshop. Customers can select from over 30 varieties of trees. Trees can also help with water runoff and helps to reduce air pollution, as well as beautify homes and neighborhoods.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb (CFL) Distribution The LADWP strategically distributes CFLs to both familiarize residential customers with this extremely efficient light source as well as to save energy. In most cases, CFLs match or surpass light output of traditional incandescent bulbs using only 1/3 of the electricity. Over 400,000 CFLs have already been distributed. The LADWP encourages customers to change out incandescent bulbs for CFLs, which are easily found at local hardware and home repair locations.
Low Income Refrigerator Exchange Program The LADWP is pleased to offer its Lifeline and Low Income Discount Rate Program customers the opportunity to replace their old, inefficient refrigerator with a FREE, new energy saving model. Participating customers will save money by using less energy, and help protect the environment by reducing the harmful emissions associated with power generation.
The LADWP is currently mailing program invitation letters, based on zip code, to all eligible LADWP residential electric customers. Eligible customers must meet the following conditions to qualify for one of the new refrigerators.
– Must be a residential customer who is currently on either the LADWP Lifeline or Low Income Discount Rate. – The customer’s existing refrigerator must be at least 10 years old and be at least 14.0 cubic feet in volume. – The outlet to which the refrigerator is connected must be grounded (3-prong) – The customer must be willing to give up (exchange) their old refrigerator to be environmentally recycled
After receiving a program invitation letter, interested customers should call the toll-free telephone number provided in the letter to schedule an appointment to verify that the refrigerator outlet is properly grounded (3-prong).
Once a customer receives their invitation letter, a customer would then call the telephone number on the letter and set-up a safety appointment. Prior to receiving any refrigerator, an appointment will be set-up to verify that your refrigerator outlet is properly grounded (3-pring) to ensure safety.
If a customer does not have a grounded outlet, the customer will be given time to correct the situation in order to qualify for the new refrigerator. LADWP customers who are currently not on the Low Income Discount Rate Program, but believe they qualify can apply to join the program.
Online Energy Audits LADWP provides a free online energy audit called Home Energy Save to educate residential customers on how to efficiently manage their electricity use efficiently. Just go to www.ladwp.com and click on residential programs, where there is a link to the interactive audit program.
Green Building and Affordable Housing Projects The affordability of housing goes far beyond its first cost. LADWP uses energy efficiency as a means of reducing a home’s operating costs; thereby making it a more affordable home in which to reside. LADWP offers technical assistance to developers and architects of affordable housing projects. A broad range of energy efficiency products and systems are available for new affordable housing and green building projects.
Partnerships
Department of Aging As part of this cooperative effort, LADWP presents free energy efficiency seminars to senior citizens. Each presentation offers valuable energy efficiency information and tips that help “seniors” better manage their electric bill. Also annually funded is an Emergency Fan Program through which senior citizens receive free circulating fans to beat the summer heat in an energy-efficient manner.
Department of Sanitation LADWP teams with the Bureau of Sanitation each post-holiday season to encourage the environmentally friendly recycling of Christmas trees. Project participants are rewarded with free CFLs to help them save energy throughout the New Year!
Energy Star (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) As an Energy StarTM partner, LADWP teams with utilities nationwide in promoting energy efficiency campaigns. These efforts communicate pertinent, seasonal energy efficiency messages to utility customers.
Flex Your Power LADWP partners with utilities throughout California in communicating the importance of energy efficiency. The Flex Your Power campaign broadcasts this valuable message through television ads, radio spots, printed literature, and retail displays.
Literature Development A library of free energy efficiency literature is available to all LADWP customers. The literature highlights LADWP programs, general conservation principles, and energy-efficient product information.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation’s largest municipal utility, provides reliable, low-cost water and power services to Los Angeles residents and businesses in an environmentally responsible manner. LADWP services about 1.4 million electric customers and 680,000 water customers in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.ladwp.com.
