Many LADWP customers got higher bills after this summer and fall. LADWP and the City of Los Angeles have since announced relief. DuloCore checked each option below on LADWP's own pages on October 28, 2026.
What Can I Do About a High LADWP Bill Right Now?
As of October 28, 2026, LADWP has paused residential power and water shutoffs for non-payment through the end of 2026. Payment plans, Level Pay and discounts are open now.
| Option (checked Oct 28, 2026) | What it does | Who can use it |
|---|---|---|
| Shutoff pause | No residential disconnections for non-payment through the end of 2026; safety shutoffs still apply | All residential customers |
| Payment arrangement | Spreads a past due balance over up to 24 or 48 months, with no down payment, interest or fees | Customers with a past due balance |
| Level Pay | Averages your bill into set monthly payments | All residential customers |
| EZ-SAVE | A discount on your electric bill | Income-qualified households |
| Lifeline | LADWP's largest discount | Seniors and people with a disability, within income limits |
| Free upgrades and rebates | Lower your use, and so your future bills | LADWP residential customers |
A payment arrangement can run up to 48 months, and EZ-SAVE takes up to $16.34 off the electric bill every two months. Call LADWP at 1-800-342-5397 (1-800-DIAL-DWP) to ask which options fit your account. LADWP also has a Financial Assistance Qualification Form on its bill payment options page.
What Did the LADWP Board Decide?
On October 27, 2026, the Board suspended residential water and power shutoffs for non-payment through the end of 2026, and ordered a review of electric rates and discounts.
According to LADWP's release, the Board resolution directs LADWP to:
- suspend residential water and electricity disconnections for non-payment through the rest of 2026, without limiting safety shutoffs;
- review the electric rate ordinance and develop recommendations on rate factors, levels, tiers and seasonality;
- review the EZ-SAVE and Lifeline discount programs and recommend ways to better help income-eligible customers;
- promote Level Pay and efficiency programs, and tell customers more about their use.
The release says median customer electricity use rose 15 to 20 percent in the most recent two-month billing periods compared with the same summer months in 2025, and that LADWP electric rates rose 7 percent since last year. It also says Mayor Karen Bass called for an independent audit of LADWP rates, and that the Board President welcomed one. Neither the release nor the Mayor's October 20 statement announces a rate change or an audit result.
Mayor Karen Bass has also asked the Board to increase LADWP's energy efficiency rebate program by 25% (Mayor Bass statement, October 26, 2026). This is a request, not an approved change: the rebate amounts on this page are LADWP's current published amounts, and we will update them if the Board acts.
The pause stops shutoffs. The release does not say past due balances are forgiven. LADWP's billing page says a late fee of 1.5% per month applies to each electric or water service with a past due amount over $150.
How Do LADWP Payment Arrangements Work?
A payment arrangement spreads a past due balance over up to 48 months for discount program customers and up to 24 months for everyone else, with no interest or fees.
- No down payment, no interest, no fees. LADWP lists these terms on its bill payment options page and its LADWP Cares page.
- You pay the plan amount plus your new charges. The terms and conditions say no late charges apply to the plan amount while every payment is made on time and in full.
- A missed payment breaks the plan. The unpaid part is then due at once.
- One plan at a time. You cannot hold a payment arrangement and Level Pay together.
For a short delay instead, LADWP offers a payment extension. LADWP says an extension does not stop the late charge.
What Is LADWP Level Pay?
Level Pay averages your last 12 months of use into one set monthly payment, so a summer spike is spread across the year. Any residential customer can enroll.
The Level Pay page says a past due balance can be added and paid off over 12, 24 or 36 months. The 24 and 36 month terms are only for accounts with a past due balance. You still get your regular bill every two months, and the monthly amount is reviewed and can go up or down. LADWP may remove you from Level Pay for a missed payment, and you then cannot re-enroll for 180 days.