Angelenos can save dollars and energy thanks to a free air conditioning tune-up program beginning this summer.

LOS ANGELES—Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Bob Blumenfield joined the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) today to announce a new money-saving energy incentive package that will be available to Angelenos starting July 1.

The new AC tune-up program will include maintenance efficiency checks for residential and commercial Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems at no cost to the ratepayer — as well as up to $150 toward the purchase and installation of cutting-edge programmable thermostats. It also provides air conditioning tune-ups free of charge.

“Our city is becoming more sustainable every day, because we're committed to innovative policies that help Angelenos save energy and cut their utility bills,” said Mayor Garcetti. “This incentive program will make home heating and cooling upgrades more affordable in L.A. — especially for residents in the Valley, where the summer heat can be so punishing. I commend Councilmember Blumenfield for his hard work to make this valuable City program a reality."

Projections suggest that the program could reduce a household’s cooling and heating costs by 30 percent, an amount likely to outweigh any rising costs from LADWP’s proposed rate increase. The new incentive program was proposed by Blumenfield and approved by the City Council last month.

“For residents across much of Los Angeles, and especially in the Valley, air conditioning is a necessity and a public health issue, not a privilege,” said Blumenfield. “Our new AC tune-up program will give residents the tools to lower their bills, reduce their energy usage, and keep cool this summer.”

Most L.A. residents use more energy to heat and cool their homes than for any other purpose; and a majority of heating and cooling units in the city are operating inefficiently. This new incentive program will help Angelenos access efficiency upgrades that will make the city more sustainable.

“As we move forward with rate adjustments, LADWP is committed to expanding money-saving programs for our customers to offset increased costs. The new air conditioning tune-up program will help Los Angeles residents and businesses save on their electricity bills and benefit the environment,” said Board of Water and Power Commissioner Jill Banks Barad. “Expanding energy efficiency in Los Angeles is a key part of our strategy to transition to clean power resources and meet our goal of cutting energy use down 15 percent by 2020. It will also help improve power reliability during hot summer months by reducing energy consumed by inefficient air conditioners.”

System checks will include air filter replacements, outdoor coil and air flow adjustments, along with an HVAC replacement incentive. Programmable or “smart” thermostats aid customers in automatically reducing heating or cooling when it’s needed least, to further reduce costs for ratepayers.