Los Angeles: Mayor Bass Asks LADWP Board to Pause Shutoffs Through Year-End, Unveils Four Relief Measures
Los Angeles — Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles, in Los Angeles County, California, issued a statement on October 20 announcing four relief measures in response to soaring electricity bills after record heat: LADWP customers may first pay what they can afford toward their bills; she has asked the LADWP Board to pause shutoffs through the end of this year, so residential customers unable to pay will not have their power or water cut off for the rest of the year; starting next month, LADWP will provide every residential customer with electricity and water usage information to help residents understand their consumption and find ways to save; and the city is encouraging customers to join the Level Pay plan, which averages bills over 12 months, while low-income seniors may consider the Lifeline or EZ-Save assistance programs.
Bass said: “Los Angeles has faced round after round of extreme heat in recent months, and running the air conditioning is a necessity. For too many Angelenos, the higher bills are a heavy burden. For seniors and people with health conditions, air conditioning is not a luxury — it is a safety necessity.”
LADWP bills every two months, and the August–September bills were among the year's highest: of its 1.6 million customers, 2% received bills over $3,000, 3% were billed between $2,000 and $3,000, and 12% between $1,000 and $2,000. The bill of Canter's Deli, a nearly century-old institution, jumped by nearly $10,000 in four months to more than $34,000. The LADWP Board is expected to formally vote on the shutoff pause on October 27, while a mayoral spokesperson said the measures take effect immediately; City Councilmember Nithya Raman had released her own three-point plan, including an audit of the DWP, on October 19. Customers with questions can call 800-DIAL-DWP (342-5397). (GSM, based on LADWP's official statement and public reporting)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0 / Busition（洛杉矶市政厅）
- 2026-10-20Los Angeles: Mayor Bass Asks LADWP Board to Pause Shutoffs Through Year-End, Unveils Four Relief MeasuresThis story
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