Los Angeles residents struggling with high electricity and water bills are getting temporary protection from shutoffs. But unpaid balances remain, and families who don’t qualify for discounts may face a different challenge.
Los Angeles families struggling with high electricity and water bills are getting some breathing room. But there’s something important to understand: The money they owe isn’t going away.
On October 20, Mayor Karen Bass announced that customers of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) can pay what they can afford for now. Residential customers unable to pay their bills will also be protected from electricity and water shutoffs through December 31, 2026.
The announcement follows months of intense heat that pushed many households to use more electricity, especially for air conditioning.
For families already struggling with rent, groceries and other expenses, the temporary protection could make a difference.
But how much time will they have to repay their bills? Will they face late fees? And what happens to families who earn too much to qualify for utility discounts but still can’t afford their payments?
Under the mayor’s October 20 announcement, residential customers unable to pay their utility bills are supposed to be protected from shutoffs through the end of the year.
LADWP told LAist that the suspension would take effect immediately. The Board of Water and Power Commissioners is expected to consider formal approval on October 27.
But this is not debt forgiveness.
Customers will still owe the money for electricity and water they have used.
That means a family that pays only part of its bill today could still have a substantial unpaid balance when the temporary protection ends.
LADWP offers repayment arrangements to help customers manage those balances over time.
How much time can you get to pay?
Under LADWP’s existing payment assistance rules, eligible customers can receive:
- Up to 48 months to repay unpaid balances if they participate in qualifying discount programs.
- Up to 24 months if they are not enrolled in those programs.
These arrangements do not require a down payment and carry no interest or payment-plan fees.
For example, imagine a family owes $1,200.
If approved for a 24-month arrangement, it could pay approximately $50 per month toward that old balance.
But there’s a catch: The family must also pay its new utility bills.
That means the repayment plan helps spread out the debt, but it doesn’t necessarily make electricity or water more affordable going forward.
Missing payments can also cause a repayment arrangement to be canceled, making the remaining balance due.
What if your family doesn’t qualify for assistance?
Not every household struggling with utility bills qualifies for LADWP’s income-based discounts.
The utility offers programs such as EZ-SAVE for eligible low-income households and Lifeline for qualifying seniors and people with disabilities.
But income limits can leave some working families outside those programs.
For example, LADWP’s current EZ-SAVE income guidelines set a $66,000 annual limit for a household of four.
A family earning $70,000 would exceed that limit, even if rent, transportation, groceries and other expenses leave little money for utilities.
That doesn’t mean the family has no options.
Customers who don’t qualify for income-based discounts may still be eligible for repayment arrangements lasting up to 24 months.
The mayor’s announcement also does not restrict the temporary shutoff protection to people enrolled in discount programs.
However, LADWP has not yet publicly clarified every requirement for receiving the new protection, including whether customers must take any action to demonstrate they cannot pay.
Residents can review available discounts and assistance through LADWP Cares.
Another reporting you should read is on utility assistance for seniors and people with disabilities. Readers should check current eligibility requirements directly with LADWP.
What about customers who can’t get a payment plan?
Some customers may face another obstacle.
LADWP’s payment arrangement rules include restrictions involving certain account conditions, missed payments and previously broken agreements.
That raises a question for families who are already behind.
What happens if they are protected from having their electricity shut off through December but cannot qualify for a new repayment arrangement?
The October 20 announcement does not clearly explain whether those customers will receive special repayment options.
For renters, there is another consideration. Some households pay LADWP directly, while others receive utility charges through a landlord or billing company.
Under California law, residential tenants have certain protections when a landlord’s LADWP account is delinquent. LADWP explains those rights in its disconnection policies.
Will late fees keep adding up?
This is another important question that has not been fully resolved.
LADWP’s regular billing policy allows a late charge of 1.5% per month on certain past-due balances.
Customers who enter formal repayment arrangements and follow the terms can avoid late fees on the balances included in those agreements.
But LADWP has not yet clearly explained whether the new temporary shutoff protection also suspends late charges for customers who simply pay what they can afford without entering a formal agreement.
A family may avoid losing electricity today but still face a larger balance later if additional charges apply.
What you can do now if you’re struggling with your LADWP bill
You don’t have to wait until December to ask for help.
Start with these steps:
- Call LADWP at 1-800-342-5397. Ask what protection applies to your account and whether you qualify for a payment arrangement.
- Ask about financial assistance. Check whether your household qualifies for EZ-SAVE, Lifeline or another program.
- Find out exactly what you owe. Ask whether late fees are being charged and how much you would pay each month under an arrangement.
- Ask about Level Pay. This program can make seasonal electricity costs more predictable, although it doesn’t erase unpaid debt.
- Keep copies of your bills and agreements. Save payment confirmations and any written information LADWP provides.
If your bill seems unusually high, ask LADWP to review your usage and explain the charges.
What happens when the protection ends?
The announced shutoff suspension runs through December 31, 2026.
What happens afterward remains unclear.
Will customers get additional time to arrange payments? Will ordinary collection procedures resume immediately? What happens to families who still cannot afford their bills?
Those questions are especially important for households already carrying unpaid balances.
LADWP’s Board is expected to consider the temporary protection on October 27, when additional details may become available.
For now, the relief offers something valuable: time.
But for families already struggling to make ends meet, the real question is whether that extra time will help them catch up, or leave them facing the same debt when the new year begins.
