Council asks DWP to hold off on utility cutoffs through Jan. 15 while worker-relief program is finalized

The Los Angeles City Council on Friday unanimously approved a motion asking the Department of Water and Power to refrain from implementing any outstanding notices of water and power cutoff until at least Jan. 15, to give staff time to complete a worker-relief program for customers facing hardship.

Why it matters: Councilmembers said many households faced immediate hardship during the holiday period and that finalizing the relief program and payment arrangements would reduce the risk of disconnections for people recently laid off or otherwise affected by the economic disruption following September 11.

What the motion does: The motion requests that any outstanding DWP notices of cutoff not be acted on by the department before Jan. 15, giving time to "straighten out the last remaining wrinkles in the worker relief program," as the motion's sponsor explained. Councilmember Glanter (motion sponsor) said she had spoken with DWP General Manager Wiggs, who assured her of the department's willingness to cooperate. Councilmember Garcetti and others noted that the gas company had stepped in with parallel relief programs.

Council discussion included questions about costs and whether sewer service charges would be included; the transcript shows council members discussing that outstanding questions about who would pay certain service charges were among issues staff needed to resolve while disconnections were paused.

Outcome and next steps: The council called the roll and recorded 10 ayes; the motion was approved. The transcript indicates the pause was intended to remain in effect through Jan. 15 while staff implemented a more permanent relief mechanism. The motion did not itself appropriate new funds on the council floor; councilmembers discussed coordination with the gas company and county assistance that had previously provided relief in some cases.