LADWP halts residential water shutoffs through year-end
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, California · Meeting date: October 27, 2026 · Published: October 28, 2026
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power commissioners have suspended residential water and electricity disconnections for non-payment through the end of 2026. The move forms part of a broader affordability resolution that also calls for greater water-conservation outreach, usage information and a review of low-income discounts.
Key points
- The board unanimously approved a resolution suspending residential water and electricity disconnections for non-payment through the remainder of 2026, except where suspension is required for safety or similar reasons.
- LADWP must give every residential customer regular information on electricity and water use, conservation options and available programmes intended to reduce consumption and bills.
- The resolution calls for expanded publicity of water- and energy-efficiency rebates, including California-friendly turf replacement rebates of $5 per square foot.
- The board also approved amendments to the Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance; conservation-related fines are to be recorded as miscellaneous water revenues.
Full report
LADWP will not disconnect residential water service for non-payment for the remainder of 2026, after its Board of Water and Power Commissioners unanimously adopted an affordability and water-conservation resolution on 27 October.
The measure applies to both water and electricity accounts and makes an exception where a disconnection is required for safety or similar reasons. It follows a 20 October request from Mayor Karen Bass for a pause in residential utility shutoffs through year-end amid public concern over unexpectedly high bills.
For water customers, the resolution directs LADWP to provide regular information on household water use, ways to conserve and the utility programmes available to permanently reduce consumption and bills. It also requires expanded advertising, marketing and outreach for programmes that reduce water and electricity use, including financial rebates.
During the meeting, LADWP staff highlighted a $5/sq-ft California-friendly turf replacement rebate among the available conservation incentives. Staff said the programmes have no caps or waiting lists. The board resolution also calls for annual outreach before 1 June on electricity and water rates and tiered usage structures in advance of hotter summer conditions.
The resolution notes that 2026’s heatwaves increased water use for irrigation and other purposes, alongside much higher electricity consumption for cooling. It also states that retail water rates had recently decreased, even as increased sewer and solid-resource charges billed by LA Sanitation contributed to higher combined bills for city services and utilities.
Commission President Allan T. Marks said the action was a starting point rather than a complete response. The board asked management to increase awareness of bill-management and efficiency programmes, review EasySave low-income and Lifeline discounts, and develop proposals to improve assistance for eligible customers within legal constraints.
LADWP is also pursuing advanced metering infrastructure for its 1.6 million customers. Management said about 60,000 meters had been installed, beginning in Lincoln Heights, and that full deployment is expected by the end of 2029. The system is intended to provide customers and the utility with more timely consumption data; management said it would support monthly billing once fully deployed.
Separately, the board approved amendments to the Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance. Under the approved item, money collected under the ordinance’s penalty provisions will be collected for water conservation, while water-conservation fines will be recorded under the utility’s miscellaneous water revenues account.
This summary was generated by AI based on the source document and may contain errors.
Source: Board of Commissioners Meeting - Oct 27, 2026, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power