City Council votes for lesser DWP hike

The 4.5% hike in the electricity rate applies to businesses and residents. It's less than the rate hike requested by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and he was lukewarm afterward about today's 8-6 vote by the City Council. The higher rate still has to go to the mayor's Department of Water and Power board for approval or, perhaps, a renewed effort to get Villaraigosa's package through the council. If the rate increase is approved Wednesday by the DWP board, it would start adding right away about $2 to the average bimonthly residential bill. LAT, DN, KABC, KPCC