Los Angeles mayor bans utility shutoffs through year end as bills surge
Mayor Karen Bass ordered a halt to electricity and water shutoffs for all residential LADWP customers until year’s end, citing soaring bills after extreme heat.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced that the city’s water and power utility will not disconnect electricity or water for any residential customer who is unable to pay their bill for the remainder of the year. Bass said the decision responds to record heat that has pushed utility rates to unsustainable levels for many Angelenos. Starting next month, LADWP will provide each household with detailed usage data to encourage conservation and will promote its Level Pay program, which spreads payments over twelve months, as well as Lifeline and EZ-Save assistance options for low-income seniors and families.
The policy comes amid reports of dramatic bill spikes, including a nearly $10,000 increase at the historic Canter’s Deli and a $3,300 residential charge that spurred City Controller Kenneth Mejia to launch an inquiry. LADWP suggested a possible water leak for the deli’s surge, a claim the owners rejected. Statewide, California’s electricity prices remain the highest in the nation, intensifying pressure on local officials to act.
Why it matters
It prevents loss of essential services for vulnerable residents as utility costs soar.
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