The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Board of Commissioners was scheduled to discuss proposals to help people with soaring bills as Mayor Karen Bass called for an independent audit of the utility’s rates.
Tuesday’s meeting was set to happen against a backdrop of anger from LADWP customers who have complained about unaffordable bills and demanded answers rather than relief.
Krista Parry, an LADWP customer, said her recent water and power bill was $1,400, more than double her previous invoice.
“My stomach dropped, and I immediately called LADWP,” Parry said, adding that the bill strained her household budget. When she reached out to the utility, it put her on a payment plan, according to Parry.
“It’s better than nothing, but $1,400 is a lot of money, unexpected charges,” she said. “It’s very surprising. I was expecting maybe $600, $800 during this really hot period of time, but not $1,400.”
Similar to other LADWP customers who have spoken to NBC Los Angeles, Parry said she wants to know what’s driving the increase. She said she planned to ask during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Micah Reed, whose frustration with water and power bills led him to launch a Change.org petition called “Cap the Heat Tax” after receiving a $3,300 bill, said he planned to attend the board meeting in person to call for an independent audit and changes to how customers are charged during the hottest months.
“I think that there is just an overwhelming amount of people that are feeling like they’re squeezed, and they’re getting crushed by the utility companies,” Reed said.
Mayor Bass on Monday called for an independent audit of LADWP rates and urged the commissioners “to deliver immediate and comprehensive relief on energy bills for ratepayers facing sharply higher charges.”
“Angelenos are opening bills they did not expect and cannot afford, and they need relief now,” according to a statement from the mayor. “Last week, I directed the Board of Water and Power Commissioners to consider measures to save customers money and ease the burden of unexpectedly high electric bills. I have reviewed the board resolution and we can do more.”
Reed said Mayor Bass’ audit proposal is a start, but there needs to be more.
“An audit doesn’t necessarily lower anybody’s bill,” he said. “I’m hoping that, the board votes yes, which would be a huge step forward, and I’m going to continue pushing until we can get some sort of rate relief for the summer tiers.”
NBCLA reached out to LADWP after the mayor’s statement. It didn’t provide a comment but said that a “board resolution” would be heard Tuesday.
The meeting agenda also includes a presentation on El Niño preparedness, a presentation regarding the power system’s hydroelectric system modernization and reliability improvement programs as well as a vote on energy
efficiency and water conservation programs. The meeting, which was scheduled for Tuesday 10 a.m., can be viewed online.
In addition to the audit, Bass wants the board to increase LADWP’s energy efficiency rebate program by 25%.
“These requests build on the steps I have already taken: allowing LADWP customers to pay only what they can afford and stopping all shutoffs through the end of the year,” Bass said. “Beginning next month, LADWP will provide every residential customer with more detailed information about their electricity and water usage, so they can see how they use these utilities and how to conserve. LADWP is also expanding outreach to ratepayers to promote bill assistance programs, including Lifeline, EZ-Save and Level Pay.”
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who is running against Bass to become Los Angeles’ next mayor, called for an independent audit of LADWP’s rate structure and billing last week.
Liz Garcia, a spokeswoman for Raman’s campaign, said in a statement Monday that Angelenos should be outraged that it took the threat of losing an election and pressure from Raman for Bass to act on the issue.
“She’s had four years to scrutinize LADWP costs, hold her appointed commissioners accountable, and demand answers about rising bills. Now, in the final week of the campaign, she’s asking taxpayers to pay outside consultants for an audit after cutting the budget of our elected Controller’s Office,” Garcia said in her statement.
Garcia said City Controller Kenneth Mejia is calling for adequate staff to audit LADWP regularly.
“Why has the mayor refused to fund the independent oversight Angelenos already elected the controller to provide? Angelenos struggling to pay their bills deserved urgency and action long before the Mayor’s own job was on the line,” Garcia added.
Meanwhile, Bass’ campaign took a swipe at Raman, pointing out that the councilwoman voted to raise trash collection fees in 2025. The City Council voted 11-2, with members Monica Rodriguez and Adrin Nazarian opposing the fee increase. Bass also signed the ordinance increasing the fee.
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