The L.A. Department of Water and Power’s Board of Commissioners voted unanimously today to suspend power and water shutoffs for nonpayment during extreme heat and cold events.
The climate crisis is causing more extreme heat, which means utility bills are going up as people run air conditioners and fans longer. Angelenos who have struggled to pay skyrocketing bills or faced power cutoffs for nonpayment say ending shutoffs as a debt collection method is a matter of climate justice.
Last year, as a result of grassroots organizing by mostly south L.A. and Valley residents, LADWP agreed to end power shutoffs during weather events deemed extreme by the National Weather Service for residents enrolled in its EZ-SAVE and Senior Citizen Lifeline Discount programs. About 147,000 Angelenos are enrolled in EZ-SAVE and 90,000 in the senior citizen program.
It extends those shutoff protections for water and power service to all LADWP customers during extreme weather. The motion directs LADWP to use local National Weather Service alerts (including Heat Advisory, Excessive Heat Watch, and Excessive Heat Warnings) as the official trigger to suspend customer utility shutoffs for bill nonpayment.
Alicia Morales Perez is with Repower LA, a grassroots coalition that advocated for an end to the debt-collection practice. She said this is another step in the right direction, but:
"We also know that there's still more to do to find relief from extreme weather without folks having the fear of their water and power being shut off."
Perez said the coalition is pushing for an end to power shutoffs for nonpayment throughout the summer heat season, as well as ask LADWP to take into account the urban heat island effect outside of National Weather Service alerts.
Perez also said there should be protections for nonpayment during events such as smoky air from wildfires, when recommendations are to stay inside and plug in air purifiers and fans.
Easing affordability of bills long-term as weather becomes more extreme is an ongoing effort of the coalition.
LADWP offers up to $225 in rebates for air conditioners for income-qualified customers, as well as other ways to cool your home, ease bill payments and save on energy and water costs. Learn more at LADWP.com/cool-la.
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