The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners is proposing the new Cool LA initiative to help eligible elderly, low-income and medically-impacted customers during extreme heat.

Cool LA will enable LADWP customers to purchase or replace air conditioning units – including window, portable air conditioners and swamp coolers – at reduced cost to lower extreme heat indoor temperatures to a safe level. The Cool LA program will also provide eligible customers with extreme heat electricity bill payment options to help them manage higher power costs for using air conditioning during the year’s hottest periods. The utility will partner with community-based organizations to share the information and attract program participants.

LADWP also has many existing programs that address short-term and long-term climate change caused by extreme heat that would fall under the Cool LA umbrella. The programs enable LADWP residential and commercial customers to quickly and easily access current benefits that help them overcome the health risks associated with extreme heat, achieve greater energy and heat mitigation efficiencies, and increased air conditioning system effectiveness.

The focus on helping residents better manage the impacts of extreme heat comes as LADWP identifies ways to ensure that all residents, especially those in communities where the impacts are greatest, are able to participate in programs.

LADWP’s Cool LA initiative will include the home energy improvements, consumer energy efficiency appliance rebate program, efficient product marketplace program, comprehensive affordable multifamily retrofits program, cool pavement program, power savers program and smooth summer payment plan program.

For information, visit ladwp.com.