City Council

(3) 23-0453 HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE REPORT relative to requiring cooling apparatus in all residential rental units; and potential programs to assist low-income and middle-income tenants with subsidies to offset increased and/or unaffordable energy consumption due to the installation and operation of a cooling apparatus; and potential funding sources for such programs. Recommendations for Council action, as initiated by Motion (Hernandez – Raman): INSTRUCT the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) and the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety to report to Council on potential code amendments to require cooling apparatus in all residential rental units. REQUEST the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the City Administrative Officer (CAO), and LAHD, to report to Council on potential programs to assist low-income and middle-income tenants with subsidies to offset increased and/or unaffordable energy consumption due to the installation and operation of a cooling apparatus, as well as potential funding sources for such programs. INSTRUCT the LAHD, and relevant City departments, to: Identify the percentage of pre-1980 residential units lacking sub metering and assess the potential consequences on the Ratio Utility Billing systems, if the mandatory installation of cooling systems were to be implemented. Conduct a comprehensive case study on an average size pre-1980 buildings. The objective of this study would be to estimate the costs associated with installing cooling systems; and, analyze the potential impacts on tenants, taking into consideration factors such as construction work, disruptions and any related inconveniences that may arise. Create options to prioritize people based on geography and/or weather. REQUEST the LADWP to report to Council regarding an estimate of the potential implications on the City's electrical grid if every residential unit in the City were equipped with a cooling system.