Efforts to stay cool over the last few months of record-breaking heat have skyrocketed electricity bills for many. Residents and business owners in Los Angeles have blown up social media with receipts showing drastic price hikes reaching the thousands.
Mayor Karen Bass announced on Tuesday that the city would implement economic relief measures for residents struggling to afford these prices. These efforts will be made in collaboration with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
“Over the past few months, Los Angeles has endured multiple punishing heat waves. Running our air conditioners has been a necessity, and for too many Angelenos, the resulting increase in utility bills is a real burden,” said the mayor in a statement released Tuesday.
The following relief measures were announced in the statement:
The statement did not provide context into what “pay what they can afford now” entails or how this may be enforced. Both the Mayor’s Communications Office and the LADWP shared this statement.
“No Angeleno should have to choose between staying cool and paying their bills. I’m committed to making sure that never happens,” said Bass.
The rise in electricity bills across the county prompted city officials to look into the problem. According to a CBS investigation, City Controller Kenneth Mejia is investigating the high bills, while the city’s Office of Public Accountability is evaluating the broader billing system
Additionally, Mayor Bass announced a different collaboration with the LADWP on Tuesday. Bass said she will be working alongside Founder and Chairman of Steadfast LA, Rick Caruso, to facilitate home building after the Palisades fires. The statement introduced “Power Ready LA,” an LADWP program to reduce upfront costs for housing projects.
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