DWP BETTER PREPARED FOR SUMMER HEAT WAVE.

Byline: KERRY CAVANAUGH

Staff Writer

In the wake of a severe heat wave last year that triggered massive power outages throughout the city, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has stockpiled electrical transformers and contracted with more crews to prepare for blackouts this summer.

Nearly 80,000 DWP customers lost power when electricity demand overwhelmed the utility's power distribution system and hundreds of transformers failed.

Since then, the utility has replaced 2,300 transformers, including 1,300 that had problems during the July heat wave, when temperatures in Woodland Hills hit 119 degrees, the hottest day ever in Los Angeles County.

Assistant General Manager Henry Martinez said the utility is not expecting another heat storm like last year, which was considered a once-in-40-years weather event.

"That doesn't mean the department isn't prepared to respond to an event of a similar nature," he said.

Still, his comments troubled some City Council members who said L.A. should be ready for an equally hot summer this year.

"Climate trends and our growing population means greater demands on the power system this year than last year," said Council President Eric Garcetti, who sits on the Council's Energy and Environment Committee.

"We need to upgrade our aging infrastructure to accommodate this increased demand. People's homes, their businesses, and in some cases, their lives depend on it."

The DWP is working on a long-term plan to repair its aging power distribution system but has been hindered by the lack of skilled labor, Martinez said.

The utility will be seeking more money for infrastructure repairs and manpower this budget year, and managers are expected to report to the council on summer heat storm preparations again next month.

kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com

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