Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Customer Service Issues

I have invented a device that can save water without limiting water flow. It has the potential to save between one to ten gallons of water per household every day. The estimated cost to install it in each household would be around $[redacted] to $[redacted]. I am seeking to understand if the cost/benefit ratio of this invention would justify making it mandatory for water conservation purposes. This information is crucial for me to determine whether I should proceed with developing this idea into a product for the market.

I reside out of state and own a rental property in Los Angeles. From August [redacted] to May [redacted], I leased the property to a tenant who later moved out without notice, leaving the property damaged. Subsequently, new tenants faced utility connection issues due to bureaucratic requirements. Despite providing necessary documentation promptly, the Department of Water & Power (DWP) unexpectedly disconnected the water and power on a Friday evening, causing distress to the new family moving in. The DWP demanded repayment of the previous tenant's outstanding balance before restoring services. This situation led to undue financial burden and inconvenience. I strongly believe that the responsibility for unpaid bills should not fall on the property owner in cases of tenant negligence. It is crucial to improve the utility company's procedures to prevent such unjust actions in the future. I am willing to discuss and resolve this matter amicably. Thank you for your attention. Nate Juda

Hello, my services were disconnected because I had issues transferring them from my old apartment to the new one. I attempted to make a partial payment, but the clerk couldn't accept it. I visited the office for assistance, but they were closed or unavailable. Now, I am being asked by LADWP to pay the full amount, which includes the bill for the other apartment. As a single mom with 3 kids, I'm struggling and even offered $[redacted], which was refused, insisting on full payment. The staff at LADWP have been unhelpful and unsympathetic. I am in need of assistance to make arrangements or negotiate a lower bill.

My power was shut off by the ladwp because of a dispute with a city worker from another division who held a grudge against me. I was in the process of making a payment, but the power was disconnected suddenly. I have been without power for weeks now, which has led to safety concerns as my property was vandalized in the darkness. I am facing threats every night due to this situation. I simply request that the ladwp turn on my power and allow me to pay off the outstanding amount gradually as originally planned. The actions taken seem to be discriminatory and unethical, and I will be addressing this issue further. Despite being eligible for disconnection on paper, the circumstances surrounding it were unjust and based on personal issues. I will continue to advocate for fairness and accountability in this matter. Thank you.

Dear Customer Service, I am writing to bring to your attention the recent charges on my DWP bill. The bill for the past two months amounts to $[redacted].71, a significant increase from my previous bills. It is concerning as I have not been using the water and power during the period of 5/09 to 6/14 because nobody was home. Upon reviewing the account summary, it indicates $34.68 for power and $[redacted].88 for water, which seems unusually high without any water leakage or excessive usage. I have noticed a trend among neighbors reporting similar spikes in their bills. I kindly request a thorough review of my billing history to understand this sudden surge in charges as it is unprecedented and alarming. Your prompt clarification on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your attention to this issue. Sincerely, Resident of [redacted] Future Street, LA, CA90065

I recently purchased a Skydrop water system for my property through a rebate with the Department of Water and Power. However, I was shocked when Skydrop notified all users that they would now be charging $1.99 a month due to cloud format expenses. It feels like being told you must pay extra for using a car after purchasing it. This situation feels like fraud to me. The Department of Water and Power issued rebates that had to be assigned to the system installer, not for ongoing fees. I am removing the system due to feeling deceived by Skydrop and their additional charges. These unexpected costs were not outlined in our original agreement, and it's concerning that DWP would support such practices. Skydrop misled customers about cost-saving benefits and water usage, leading me to question their ethics.

Hi, I submitted a service initiation request 12 days ago for [redacted] Griffin Ave, Los Angeles, CA [redacted]. I am awaiting confirmation if the service has been transferred to my name. Although I have electricity right now, I need to ensure it is under my account. I require an account number to provide my landlord. Moreover, my landlord mentioned I should arrange for trash service through the same provider. Could you please provide me with details regarding that service as well? Thank you.

I am curious as to why it will take 2-3 months to have an inspector confirm the validity of our encroachment, especially since multiple dwp inspectors have already examined the situation over the past year, with the most recent inspection on 12/3/[redacted]. We are unable to proceed with converting our new garage-rec room to an adu without obtaining dwp clearance. It appears that the delay in granting the permit is hindering our progress rather than aiding it. Is there a way to speed up this process?

I own the property at [redacted] Avenida De Cortez [redacted]. My name is Stuart Kaiser. The water at my property was shut off by DWP due to a water leak at the City valve. While I was away, a plumber fixed the major water leak in the front yard, and now the water can be turned back on. DWP must come and turn the water back on and replace the valve on the city line, as suggested by my plumber. The plumber will return on Wednesday morning and has requested the water be turned on by DWP. I have already reported the leak to DWP with Ticket Number [redacted]. This is urgent, please contact me at [redacted]. Thank you for your assistance.

I noticed some inaccuracies on the meter reading notification form that LADWP sends out to customers. I am sharing this message to suggest that correcting these minor details could improve the public's perception of LADWP, and save consumers time by ensuring accurate information. The meter reading notice I received displays the main LADWP phone number ([redacted]0) under the section "If you have questions" instead of the direct line to the meter reading department ([redacted]). It would be more convenient to have the correct number listed on the form to avoid unnecessary transfers through the main line. Furthermore, the contact hours listed differ from the meter reading department's voice message. The notification form states contact hours as 7:00am-7:00pm daily, while the voice message states hours as 7:30am-4:30pm. I believe these corrections would be beneficial for all customers.

Upon moving into my apartment, the landlord failed to mention applying to "DWP" for electricity. I mistakenly went through "Edison" but have now been left without power. The Department of Water and Power is requesting $[redacted] to transfer the service to my name, which I cannot afford. As a senior, disabled veteran, I am struggling without electricity. Various organizations are unable to assist me as the bill is not in my name. I have requested to have the bill transferred to me, but this has been denied. I am at a loss for what to do next as I cannot come up with the $[redacted] requested. It's distressing to be in this situation, especially considering I didn't know how to handle the transfer process initially.

This is the third time I am reaching out. My power is currently out, and as a veteran, senior, and disabled individual, it is crucial for my survival. I need to transfer the account into my name to receive assistance with the electricity bill. Despite my attempts at two different "DWP" locations, I have not been successful. I believe what is happening to me is unjust. The landlord did not inform me that I needed to deal with "DWP" for the bill to be in my name. I urgently require a $[redacted].00 bill from "DWP" to seek aid from churches or non-profits. I cannot afford this amount and I am not trying to obtain free electricity intentionally.

I require a new black bin as we were never given the second one. We have the green bin but only one black bin was provided, and we did not receive it even after calling because the recycling from next door is mixed in. We also need two blue barrels. I need two special pick-ups at [redacted] S. Budlong, [redacted]: 1 green bin, 1 blue bin, and 1 black bin (only 1 black bin was provided). At [redacted] S. Budlong, [redacted], we need 1 blue bin as ours was taken away and not replaced. There is a special pick-up needed for blue bin items in a green bin since our blue bin was disposed of by your staff. Additionally, we have a dresser, housewares, paint cans, and old construction debris for special pick-up. How do I arrange that? Do I need to schedule a specific time and day to bring these items out for collection? Can you assist me with this? I believe each address is allowed one special pick-up per year, is that correct? - Julieanne G., tenant

I phoned the Department of Water and Power (DWP) on Thursday morning to report a leak at the water input connection on my property. A DWP crew was scheduled to assess the leak. Upon returning home, I inquired with my community's security about any DWP trucks visiting while I was away briefly. The guard mentioned a truck had indeed come to check a leak, but I didn't find any notes left behind. It seems the DWP vehicle might have been responding to a different call instead of mine. Unfortunately, my attempts to reach them by phone for clarification were unsuccessful.

During the summer, a contractor has been working in the Mar Vista Area putting up taller poles. I reside on Dahlgren Ave., which is a one-block street. Behind our six houses, there is an area on either side of the pole line that belongs to the DWP. Approximately a month ago, the workers mentioned they would return to remove the grass and cuttings they left in this space. Despite making complaints, DWP came out last week but only asked about the contractor (EPC) noted on the street. However, no action has been taken to remove the flammable debris, and we would like it cleared as soon as possible. It would be appreciated to receive feedback on which party will address this matter and when. Thank you. glUniform

Could you please send a truck to collect a large mess left by a homeless person at the corner of N. Hoover St and N. Myra Ave, LA, CA [redacted]? A homeless man tried to settle there, leaving behind two carts and a significant amount of rubbish. Despite my previous call this morning, the mess remains, making it challenging to navigate during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, there is a family living in a tent causing obstruction for wheelchair users, with more carts and tents creating unsanitary conditions in front of the nursing home on St. Monica St. Kindly assist in relocating them to the hotel rooms available for the homeless. Thank you. Doe G.

We have discovered an underground leak near our home, and there are 4 buildings on our property. Despite not being responsible for water bills, we cannot locate the water shut-off. The DWP now requires the owner to contact your company. We recently discussed the issue with him, and he requested we report it and provide him with updates. Could you please inform us of the location of the water shut-off for [redacted] S. Leland Street in San Pedro, [redacted]? It is crucial for us to address this matter promptly. Thank you, Kathleen K.

Issue: I am radio amateur WA6EWS. While on the 80-meter band, I encounter loud frying noise on my receiver, hindering communication. The noise, reaching 10 dB above S9 on 80m ham band ([redacted] to [redacted] kHz), decreases to around S5 during a power outage on June 2. After power is restored, the noise worsens. This indicates a potential link to power line issues. Request: I urge LADWP to repair equipment, reducing noise to S5 or lower. Power-line noise often stems from spark or arcing across utility hardware gaps caused by faulty installation. I've ruled out internal causes by testing with entrance breakers off; the interference persists. As per DWP's advice, I contacted LADWP EMF group and was redirected to the Electric Trouble side for investigation as the Radio Shop doesn't handle such issues. Actions Taken: 1. Verified the noise is external to my house. 2. Seeking LADWP intervention to inspect and rectify noisy equipment. 3. Requesting noise reduction by a specialist like Paul Charbonneau, formerly in the Telecommunications Section. Appreciate your help. Donald H. Way, WA6EWS

An individual named Roman Lee visited my home claiming to work for the "California Efficiency Group" contracted by LADWP to test water quality for the [redacted] zip code. He mentioned that due to high levels of solids contamination in my water, I qualify for a whole home water filtration system, a reverse osmosis drinking water system, and a tankless water heating setup at no cost. I am seeking confirmation from LADWP to validate if this program is genuine. I am worried about the contamination levels detected during the testing.

Subject: Billing Discrepancy and Request for Review To the Los Angeles Water and Power Customer Service Team, I am writing to bring to your attention a discrepancy in my recent bill, due this month, associated with account number [redacted]. The amount owed is notably higher than my typical charges, leading me to believe there may be an error in the calculation of my usage. As a single individual, my water and electricity consumption remains consistent, raising concerns about a possible mistake during meter readings or data input resulting in an inaccurate billing statement. Regrettably, this is not the first occurrence of such an issue, as previous bills have also shown discrepancies, despite assurances of improved accuracy following my previous inquiries. I respectfully urge a thorough investigation into this matter and a correction of the billing to accurately reflect my consumption. I can provide past bill copies for comparison to demonstrate the irregularity of the current statement. I value your attention to this matter and eagerly await your swift resolution. Please do not hesitate to request additional details if needed. Appreciatively, A. Hannani Cardiovascular Sonographer and Point of Care Ultrasound Coordinator