Follow-Up: LA Mayor Bass Seeks Outside Independent Audit of LADWP Rates Ahead of October 27 Board Vote
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, in Los Angeles County, California, said on October 26 that she has called for an outside-of-the-city, independent audit of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) rate structures, and urged the LADWP Board of Commissioners to deliver immediate and comprehensive relief on energy bills for ratepayers facing sharply higher charges. The Board will meet and act on several proposals on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 10 a.m.
'Angelenos are opening bills they did not expect and cannot afford, and they need relief now,' Bass said. '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.' She said the audit should explain how rates are calculated, justified and billed, evaluate the cost of service, and examine rate design to promote long-term affordability and protect ratepayers from unexpected billing spikes, with a fully transparent process that engages community stakeholders and seeks input from the Ratepayer Advocate.
Bass also made two specific requests: that the Board direct LADWP to go beyond raising the visibility of the Level Pay program by offering an incentive to enroll and considering auto-enrolling customers, and that the Department boost its energy efficiency rebate program by 25%, covering a broader range of upgrades such as cooling systems, efficient windows and appliances, to help residents use less energy, lower their bills and reduce strain on the power grid.
Bass said the requests build on steps she has already taken, including allowing LADWP customers to pay only what they can afford and stopping all shutoffs through the end of the year. Beginning next month, LADWP will provide every residential customer with more detailed information about their electricity and water usage, and is expanding outreach on bill assistance programs including Lifeline, EZ-Save and Level Pay. GSM reported on October 20 that Bass had asked the Board to pause shutoffs through year-end, with four bill-relief measures issued; the independent audit request is the latest development in that line.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 洛杉矶市政厅（资料图）。Another Believer 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Los Angeles City Hall (file photo). Photo by Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- 2026-10-20Los Angeles: Mayor Bass Asks LADWP Board to Pause Shutoffs Through Year-End, Unveils Four Relief Measures
- 2026-10-27Follow-Up: LA Mayor Bass Seeks Outside Independent Audit of LADWP Rates Ahead of October 27 Board VoteThis story
