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Council asks DWP to postpone utility cutoffs for customers with outstanding notices until Jan. 15
Summary
The council voted to ask the Department of Water and Power not to implement outstanding water and power cutoff notices before Jan. 15 while a worker-relief program is finalized; the motion passed unanimously.
The Los Angeles City Council on Dec. 21 voted to ask the Department of Water and Power (DWP) to refrain from implementing any outstanding notices of cutoff for water and power bills until at least Jan. 15, voting 10-0.
Councilmember Galanter explained the special motion was requested because some customers facing cutoff already held notices and the council had only recently learned of unresolved details in a DWP worker-relief program intended to assist people laid off after Sept. 11. The Jan. 15 date was chosen to give staff time to finalize program details and avoid disconnecting customers over the holiday period.
Galanter said she had spoken with "Mr. Wiggs, the general manager," who assured the department’s willingness to cooperate. Councilmember Pacheco asked whether the sewer service charge would be included; Galanter said that issue was not yet resolved and is among the items staff would work out before Jan. 15.
A public speaker, Miguel Aguilar, said he had been out of work for six weeks and said the moratorium would mean a great deal to thousands of people facing competing priorities of shelter, food and utilities. Councilmember Garcetti added that the gas company was offering similar relief and thanked private-sector partners for stepping in.
The clerk recorded 10 ayes and the council’s request was approved.
Clarifying points on the record: the motion asked the DWP to avoid acting on outstanding cutoff notices until Jan. 15; the motion did not resolve the question of who would pay sewer service charges on delinquent accounts and that remains to be worked out.
