The city council pulled the plug Tuesday on any plans to stop a rate hike that will take effect July 1.
Councilwoman Jan Perry, hoping to stop the 4.8% increase, tried to have the council assert jurisdiction over the issue. In order to do so, she needed 10 votes according to the city charter but could only secure 9.
5 council members opposed Perry's effort including councilmen Eric Garcetti, Herb Wesson, Janice Hahn, Richard Alarcon and Tony Cardenas.
Not voting was Councilman Bernard Parks, who arrived in the council chambers about one minute after votes were cast. He said he would have provided the decisive tenth vote to assert jurisdiction.
"I made my point," Perry said after the vote. "We had nine people -- that's pretty darn close."
Parks explained that he spent the morning and early afternoon attending the funeral for former Los Angeles Police Department chief Daryl Gates, visiting the free medical services being provided at the Sports Arena, and going to a meeting at the Department of Recreation and Parks.
"When I read my book (the council agenda) last night, it was an informational issue. I did not have any idea that there was a voting issue," he said. "If I had known that earlier, I would have rearranged my schedule."
After weeks of disagreement, the DWP board adopted the council's recommendation for a rate increase of six-tenths of a cent per kilowatt-hour. Under that formula, the average monthly bill would increase 4.8 percent.
DWP officials have said they will not give the city $73.5 million needed to pay for basic services until the rate hike becomes final. Joseph Ramallo, spokesman for the DWP, said the fund transfer matter still must be acted on by the board.
