LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The proposal by the city of Los Angeles to install solar panels across the metropolitan area is very risky, an analyst said.
The plan -- outlined in Measure B, which easily made the March 3 ballot -- could be more expensive than proponents, including the city's Department of Water and Power, acknowledge, The Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
The city's chief legislative analyst, Gerry Miller, warned Council President Gerry Garcetti that the solar measure could result in "substantial increases" to the electricity bills of DWP ratepayers. Garcetti called the plan "extremely risky."
The newspaper reported that opponents have called Measure B a backdoor attempt to have voters approve a bevy of rate increases.
"That's the problem with City Hall," said former DWP Commission President Nick Patsaouras, who opposes Measure B and is a candidate for city controller. "They think the average taxpayer is not smart enough to tell
them the truth."
DWP General Manager H. David Nahai says the plan would cost $1.5 billion, but an analysis says the proposal's cost could reach $3.6 billion.
