City Council President Alex Padilla and Councilman Tony Cardenas said the city-owned utility should reduce its dependence on dirtier energy sources such as coal and increase its use of water, wind and other renewable sources.

The DWP currently gets less than 5 percent of its energy from so- called "green power" sources.

But the council's Energy, Commerce and Natural Resources committee voted Tuesday to increase the proportion to 20 percent by 2017, which is the same as the state-mandated minimum for private utilities.

Padilla said the DWP should strive for the same goal.

"I think it's important to invest in technology, to invest in technology that will be owned in whole or part by the Department of Water and Power," he said.

Increasing the DWP's reliance on renewable energy will add about $3 to the average monthly power bill of $52 to $53, DWP officials said.

City Council members and environmental activists said the cost is justified by the benefit of cleaning up the smoggy Southern California air basin.

Martin Schlageter of the Los Angeles-based Coalition for Clean Air endorsed the city's plan.

"It appears reasonable and ambitious, with protections for financial integrity of the department (of water and power)," he said. "We're excited and eager to get some details so we can all move forward."

The proposal now goes to the full Los Angeles City Council for approval.