News Brief: L.A. Water and Power puts off rebate decision

Yesterday, The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power board of directors put off discussing how it will move forward with rebates to property owners who install solar photovoltaic panels on their roofs with dwindling funds and heavy interest.

The board voted in November to gradually reduce payouts per watt from $4.53 to $1.62 in 2016 in order to extend the life of the program.

The LA City Council vetoed that decision two weeks ago and asked the board to come up with a new plan. The City Council also ordered a three-month moratorium on new solar rebate applications in order to give the department time to catch up with demand.

The board was slated to discuss and perhaps vote on a new plan for continuing the rebate program.

But the board voted Tuesday to defer discussion, according to the board’s public affairs representative, Carol Tucker.

The board members did not reschedule the discussion, Tucker said.