Mayor’s Actions Imperil the Soundness of DWP

Leon Furgatch’s article “Bill Would End Mayor’s Raid of DWP to Expand Police� (Valley Commentary, June 11) touches on several important points.

First, the transfer of city Department of Water and Power surplus funds to the city does indeed constitute a hidden tax on us DWP customers. That is contrary to the spirit of Proposition 13. In addition, the elimination of the transfer should help reduce our already very reasonable water and electric rates and require the city to operate effectively and responsibly. Los Angeles residents should urge their state senators to support the bill by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to stop the practice.

Second, the selection of PSC Energy Corp. over other, less costly contractors remains a mystery, one which we DWP customers should require our council members to solve.

Third, the possibility of a privatized DWP should be scrutinized by us rate-payers and our council members. The rates we pay now for both water and power are extraordinarily reasonable. Privatization would inevitably result in substantial rate increases.

Like any large bureaucratic entity, the DWP is not perfect. Never has been. Nonetheless, for years it has provided us dependable and reasonable water and electric service and contributed handsomely to the city’s coffers. The mayor has shamelessly politicized the DWP and, in the process, compromised its infrastructure and reliability. He has cavalierly done so before an unwitting electorate.

GLEN W. REDMAN

Los Angeles