Full Breakdown
Mayor Bass Proposes Relief for Los Angeles Utility Customers Amid Heat-Driven Bill Surge
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Relief Measures Unveiled
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced a package aimed at easing the burden on Department of Water and Power (LADWP) customers facing unusually high utility bills. The plan asks the LADWP board to pause electricity and water shutoffs through the end of the year, encourages enrollment in the Level Pay program that spreads costs over 12 months, and highlights eligibility for Lifeline or EZ Save assistance for low-income seniors and households.
Background – Heat Waves and Usage Spike
A series of searing heat waves this summer pushed power consumption to near-record levels, driving many customers into higher pricing tiers. LADWP’s own data show electric rates rose 7 % from the prior year, while water rates fell slightly in the first half of the year. A city-wide 10 % utility tax on water and power further amplifies bills during extreme heat.
On-the-Ground Impact – Customer Experiences
Former UCLA football player Micah Reed reported a $3,300 bill for two months of electricity, water and sanitation, with electricity alone accounting for $2,100. Studio City resident Patrice Berlin said her two-month bill jumped to $2,700, noting water charges surged from $103 the previous year to $2,000 after an alleged leak that inspectors could not confirm. Berlin’s water usage later returned to normal after LADWP agreed to install a smart water meter.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Bass framed the relief effort as a response to “outrageous rates” compounded by high gasoline prices and inflation. LADWP interim general manager Dave Hanson emphasized that the spike is driven primarily by increased electricity usage for air-conditioning and fans, not by rate hikes alone. The utility is also working on rate reform and smart-meter installations, though no timeline has been set.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think at this time of the year, people are looking at usage. It's not so much the rate as it is the amount of electricity that they're using when they're running fans, they're running air conditioners,” — Dave Hanson, interim general manager of LADWP
- “The whole bill was $2,700. I mean, that's more than social security. I mean, and that's ridiculous. I've lived here 30 years. I never had any increase like that,” — Patrice Berlin, of Studio City
- “Something's definitely wrong and DWP gives you no answers. They just say, sorry, that's the way it is. So that's not right,” — Patrice Berlin, of Studio City
- “There was also a significant increase on the sanitation side for trash I think it was about $75 to a $100. So add that on there plus the high usage for the summer and it's every two months It can be a large bill,” — Dave Hanson, interim general manager of LADWP
- “Los Angeles is a very hot place to live and it almost seems like there's a heat tax that is on residents and I'm just a regular person, right? So it just feels like almost to the point where we're getting price gouged,” — Micah Reed