Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) shutoffs for Los Angeles residents affected by high utility bills will be paused through the end of the year for those who are unable to afford them, the company and Mayor Karen Bass announced Tuesday.
For the time being, the mayor said LADWP customers should pay what they can afford while they have assurance their power or water won’t be shut off. The temporary relief comes as part of an effort to help customers with costly bills, though they will still be expected to pay them eventually.
David Hanson, interim general manager of LADWP, cited Proposition 26, which limits utility companies’ ability to charge for anything other than the direct cost of providing utilities, as reason for the expectation that customers pay their bills eventually.
“Because of Prop 26 and state law, we do still have to get that payment for what was used, but we can enter into a very reasonable agreement at 0% interest with any of our customers,” Hanson said.
The relief measures ask the LADWP board to stop shutoffs through the end of December for customers unable to pay. It comes amid growing customer complaints over high power bills following recent heat waves. The utility company said bills are up 7.8% this year, not because power is more expensive, but because usage went up.
“For seniors and people with health conditions, air conditioning isn’t a luxury. It’s essential to staying safe. With outrageous gasoline prices and inflation driving up grocery bills and the cost of living, we don’t want anyone overwhelmed by a utility bill,” Bass said in a statement. “Angelenos need swift relief, and I am taking concrete action to provide it.”
LADWP customers are encouraged to join the Level Pay program, which averages past usage over the last 12 months into a predictable monthly bill. Company officials also said customers who feel there is something off with their bill can call them for a breakdown of the pricing.
Beginning next month, the utility will provide every residential customer with information about their electricity and water usage with the aim of improving awareness of how residents use utilities and how they can conserve.
Meanwhile, Raman led a news conference Monday to address complaints about the high bills. The councilwoman said she would pursue a three-point plan with the following actions:
“The public deserves transparency about the cost that they are experiencing. They deserve a public justification of these enormous costs,” Raman said. “They deserve a justification for every dollar that is being spent.”
Raman criticized Bass for the rate increase under her administration. The City Council, including Raman, voted to increase sewer and trash fees last year. Electric and water rates are set by DWP.
It’s unclear what will happen to the bills after the temporary protection expires.
City News Service contributed to this report.
