A reader wrote: I’m reaching out to bring your attention to a potential story, a lingering issue that’s affecting many homeowners in the Palisades, whose homes didn’t burn down.
For some reason, the DWP hasn’t issued bills to any Palisades homeowners since the fires. It’s been over six months now, and despite repeated calls (both by us and others), as well as outreach to Traci Park’s office, we’ve had no luck getting a resolution.
While there’s a part of me that hopes this means they’re waiving the charges, it’s far more likely that we’ll all receive a substantial bill—possibly in the $10,000 range—at some point in the near future. Understandably, no one’s looking forward to that surprise.
A story about this would be much appreciated.
A resident.
(In June 30, “DWP: Finding Truth in the Reporting” was printed in CTN. Below is what CTN learned through a DWP press release.)
For everyone in Pacific Palisades who was in collections for failing to pay DWP bills, there is now a moratorium until the end of the year for one to start making payments.
In February, DWP “paused” all billing for customers living in the Palisades.
DWP has decided not to bill water usage starting from the last billing date in January, but if meters are repaired, billing could resume for commercial customers at the end of July and residents at the end of August.
For those who have electric service, the electrical bill will be from the last meter read date until present, because it reflects usage.
Basically, DWP will not bill for the water until August, and will bill for electricity based on usage. Why don’t they want to estimate bills? Fear of a lawsuit. Because it could be longer than 180 days before a customer receives a bill and in a 2013 class-action lawsuit over billing against the utility and the city of Los Angeles, resulted in $67 million in refunds.
Additionally, there were 432 customers who had solar credits, whose homes burned or partially burned. If they rebuild in the Palisades, they will be able to use those credits. Those credits cannot be converted to cash and cannot move them from one property to another. If someone else buys that property those credits cannot go to the new owner.
DWP mentioned during Tracy Park’s Town Hall meeting that not all of the electrical usage would be billed. Since DWP is only allowed to bill a maximum of three billing periods (two months for Residential), and the usage through the end of August would be for four billing periods, there will be some sort of credit adjustment when billing resumes.
Despite receiving a notice in February that DWP bills and water use would be waived permanently from January 1st forward, not withstanding that the fires destroyed houses in the ability to even turn on the water, last week I received a bill indicating I owed over $1,200 for months February through June. There is no water connection on my property. This is typical “Karen Bass style “. IE, wave permit fees then later state it will be subject to Future city council decisions. Agree to a pay cut then forget about it and not address it again. This woman cannot be trusted. Now we need to think about someone else who can take charge of the city during the World Cup and Olympics. Certainly not Karen Bass
The DWP won’t even call us back…. It’s been months of trying to get power restored. Negligence at its worst.