Discounted DWP Rates Offered to Firms That Rebuild in Area

Owners of businesses that were severely damaged in the Northridge earthquake may qualify for discounted rates for water and power services if they rebuild within a year, the Los Angeles City Council decided Wednesday.

Under the resolution proposed by Councilman John Ferraro, business owners who rebuild by Jan. 17, 1995, within 10 blocks of their previous site can get a 25% discount on Department of Water and Power services for five years.

The resolution was designed to give businesses an incentive to rebuild and stay in the city. The discounted rates were originally conceived after the 1992 riots, but so far, fewer than 60 businesses have taken advantage of the offer.

The quake damaged more than 4,000 commercial buildings in the city of Los Angeles, including about 1,500 that require substantial repairs before they can be occupied.

A DWP spokesman estimated that the discounted rates will reduce the department’s revenue by about $2 million annually. But he added that the loss would be recovered by slight increases in the bills of other DWP customers.

To qualify, businesses must either have been destroyed or rendered unusable. In addition, the business must be rebuilt to at least 80% of its former size.

Interested business owners should apply for the rates with the city’s Community Development Department.