As L.A.’s Mayoral Race Heats Up, So Do Utility Bill Frustrations

With less than two weeks until Angelenos head to the polls, soaring Los Angeles Department of Water and Power bills have taken center stage in the contentious mayoral race, putting pressure on both candidates to offer solutions. On Tuesday, Mayor Karen Bass announced that she had ordered LADWP to pause all shutoffs through the end of the year as residents face high utility costs amid record-breaking heat waves across the city. Bass also said that beginning in November, LADWP must provide residents with information about their electricity and water usage to help them conserve resources and lower their bills. “Angelenos need swift relief, and I am taking concrete action to provide it,” the mayor said. “No Angeleno should have to choose between staying cool and paying their bills. I m committed to making sure that never happens.” Councilmember Nithya Raman, who was polling ahead of Bass in September, has proposed a broader plan. If elected, Raman said she would pursue a thr