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[ LA WATCHDOG ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/la-watchdog)
# Ratepayers Are Mad As Hell
October 26 2026
Written by Jack Humphreville.
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LA WATCHDOG - DWP Ratepayers are mad as hell because of the massive increases in their DWP bills. There have been front page articles in the Los Angeles Times, the Daily News, and the California Post. TV newsrooms are having a field day. There is a petition, Cap the Heat Tax < [Petition · Cap the Heat Tax: After a $3,322 Bill, Demand an Independent Audit and Summer Rate Relief - Los Angeles, United States · Change.org](https://www.change.org/p/cap-the-heat-tax-after-a-3-322-bill-demand-an-independent-audit-and-summer-rate-relief)>, with almost 40,000 signatures calling for an independent audit to into “LADWP’s rate calculations, tiered penalty structures, and pass-through adjustment factors (the Energy Cost Adjustment and the Incremental Reliability Cost Adjustment) that quietly inflate bills.”
And behind this outrage is Micah Reed, a Valley resident who is bent out of shape because he received a $3,322 bill from DWP, 30% higher than his previous bill. He has posted more than 40 video clips on Facebook and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/bruinstr/), including one calling for Angelenos to attend the meeting of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners on Tuesday, October 27, at 10 AM at DWP headquarters at 111 North Hope Street in DTLA. (If you cannot attend, click on the [Board’s Meeting web site](https://www.ladwp.com/who-we-are/board-commissioners/board-meetings-and-agendas) to view.
Underlying this spike in our bills is higher than normal temperatures resulting in the use of more electricity to run our air conditioners, especially if you live in the Valley. This excess usage moves Ratepayers into a higher, more expensive tier. Homeowners are also using more water for irrigation because of the heat. We are also being hit with higher trash collection fees and sewer service charges.
Mayor Bass also told DWP ratepayers to “just pay what you can afford now” and asked DWP “to pause shutoffs through the end of the year.” But the Mayor gave no clue how to pay for this holiday, especially since there are already over 400,000 customers who are delinquent in paying their bills.
Mayor Bass has asked the Board of Commissioners to approve an independent audit of DWP rates. “It should explain how rates are calculated, justified, and billed, evaluate the cost of service, and examine rate design to promote long-term affordability and protect ratepayers from unexpected billing spikes. To ensure credibility, the process must be fully transparent, engage community stakeholders, and seek input from the Ratepayer Advocate.”
These community stakeholders include the Neighborhood Councils who have a long-standing Memorandum of Understanding with the Department. This would include input from the Neighborhood Councils, frequent updates from the auditors, being informed on a timely basis as to the issues and progress of the audit, and the review of any drafts of the report. The City cannot afford another scandal like the recent highly edited report of the LAFD’s role in the Palisades fire.
There remains the question as to whether the Mayor and the City Council will allow a truly independent and comprehensive audit by a nationally recognized firm, or whether it will business as usual where Ratepayers and Angelenos are kept in the dark. But they need to remember that Angelenos are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.
***(Jack Humphreville** writes the LA Watchdog column for CityWatch, where he covers city finances, utilities, and accountability at City Hall. He is President of the DWP Advocacy Committee, serves as the Budget and DWP representative for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, and is a longtime Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate. With a sharp focus on fiscal responsibility and transparency, Jack brings an informed and independent voice to Los Angeles civic affairs. He can be reached at ****.)*
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