Molly Ayala
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the largest municipal utility in the United States and is the sole electricity provider for the city of Los Angeles. The LADWP has a diverse power generation, transmission and distribution system, delivering electricity to more than 4 million people in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) |
| Founding Date | 1902 |
| Electricity Service Start Date | 1917 |
| Service Area | City of Los Angeles and several adjacent cities and communities in southwestern Los Angeles County, California |
| Number of Customers | More than 4 million residents and local businesses |
| Average Daily Water Delivery | 435 million gallons of water per day |
| Electric Generating Capacity | 8,100 megawatts (2021-2022) |
| Power Sources | Natural gas, coal, nuclear, hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal |
| Initiatives | Rebates for electric vehicles, tap water safety, Cool LA for managing extreme heat impacts, My Water Insights for water use management, Energy Advisor Tool for home energy assessment |
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What You'll Learn
History of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the largest municipal utility in the United States, delivering water and electricity to millions of residents and businesses in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. LADWP was founded in 1902 to supply water to the city of Los Angeles, and it began delivering electricity to portions of the city in 1917.
In the early 20th century, Los Angeles experienced rapid population growth, which put a strain on the city's water distribution system. LADWP was established to address this issue and ensure a safe and reliable water supply for the growing city. The availability of water has been a significant factor in the development and growth of Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Bureau of Power and Light was formed in 1911 to manage the city's electrical system, which at the time was supplied by private companies. In 1922, the bureau purchased Southern California Edison's distribution system within the city, and in 1937, it acquired the power system of the Los Angeles Gas and Electric Corporation, becoming the dominant power supplier in Los Angeles. That same year, the bureau merged with the Bureau of Water Works and Supply to become the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
LADWP has been involved in several controversies and media portrayals over the years. For example, the 1928 St. Francis Dam failure and the books "Water and Power" and "Cadillac Desert" are all believed to be inspired by the department's efforts. Interestingly, LADWP has also been mentioned in popular culture, including the 1974 film "Chinatown," which was a fictionalized story based on the California Water Wars.
Today, LADWP continues to supply water and electricity to the city of Los Angeles and is committed to building a more sustainable future for the region. The department offers various programs and initiatives to promote energy conservation and help customers manage their utility bills. LADWP is also working to develop local solar energy sources and encourage the use of electric vehicles.
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LADWP's electricity sources
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the largest municipal utility in the United States, delivering electricity to over four million residents and businesses in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.
LADWP operates four natural gas-fired generating stations within the city, which, along with other natural gas sources, account for 24% of its capacity. It also receives 21% of its electricity from coal-fired plants in Utah and Arizona, but it plans to transition away from coal by 2025. 14% of its energy is generated using nuclear power from the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona, and 2% comes from hydropower, most of which is from the Hoover Dam. The remaining capacity comes from renewable energy sources and other power generation stations.
LADWP has a diverse and vertically integrated power generation, transmission, and distribution system spanning five Western states. In 2004, the Los Angeles City Council directed LADWP to generate 20% of its energy (excluding the Hoover Dam) from clean sources by 2010, a goal that was met and exceeded. LADWP has continued to increase its use of renewable energy sources, achieving 37% capacity from "green power" renewable energy sources as of 2020. This includes the 120 MW Pine Tree Wind Farm, the largest municipally-owned wind farm in the United States.
LADWP is also investing in photovoltaic solar throughout the Southwest and geothermal sources in the Salton Sea area. Additionally, LADWP has developed local solar programs that allow residents and businesses to generate their own power by tapping into the city's abundant sunshine.
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LADWP's renewable energy goals
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the electric company in Los Angeles. LADWP is the nation's largest public utility and has set an ambitious goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2035, a decade earlier than previously planned. This goal is part of the LA100 Study, which aims to determine the necessary investments and strategies to achieve a complete transition to renewable energy sources.
To meet this goal, LADWP will need to rapidly deploy wind, solar, and storage technologies this decade and shut down local gas power plants, such as the Valley Generating Station. The transition to clean energy is expected to create approximately 9,500 new jobs and will focus on equitable hiring practices, ensuring that disadvantaged communities benefit from the new opportunities.
LADWP has also launched a two-year equity strategy to ensure that the benefits of the clean energy transition are felt across the city, especially in communities that have been most affected by fossil fuel pollution. The LA100 Equity Strategies, developed in partnership with NREL and the University of California, Los Angeles, aim to improve energy equity and ensure a just transition for all Angelenos.
In addition to its renewable energy goals, LADWP offers various programs to help customers manage their energy use and costs, such as the Lifeline Rate Program, which provides exemptions on utility bills for senior and disabled citizens, and Cool LA, which assists customers in managing the impacts of extreme heat caused by climate change. LADWP also provides rebates of up to $4,000 for qualifying used electric vehicles and has tools like My Water Insights and the Energy Advisor Tool to help customers understand and manage their water and energy usage.
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LADWP's customer assistance programs
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) offers a range of customer assistance programs to help those who are struggling to pay their utility bills or need help managing their payments. Here is an overview of some of LADWP's customer assistance programs:
Financial Assistance
LADWP provides financial assistance to eligible customers who need help paying their utility bills. The EZ-SAVE Program is designed to help income-qualified customers save on their LADWP bills. This program does not require proof of income to enroll, but eligibility may be assessed after enrolment. The EZ-SAVE Program also makes customers eligible for other savings programs.
Lifeline Program
The Lifeline Program is a City of LA Office of Finance initiative that offers senior and disabled citizens significant discounts on their utility bills. This program is available to those aged 62 and older or those with a qualified medical condition.
Cool LA
Cool LA is a program designed to assist vulnerable customers in managing the impacts of extreme heat, particularly older adults, income-qualified families, and residents of underserved communities.
Level Pay
Level Pay is a monthly billing option that helps customers budget for their LADWP bill and pay off past due amounts. It allows customers to pay their balance over time through payment agreements.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
LIHEAP assists eligible income-qualified households in meeting their immediate home heating and/or cooling needs.
LADWP encourages customers to contact them to discuss their situation and explore the options available to manage their utility bills and payments.
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LADWP's overtime pay controversies
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the electric company in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1902 to supply water to residents and businesses in Los Angeles and surrounding communities, and it began delivering electricity in 1917.
LADWP has been involved in several controversies over the years, including controversies surrounding overtime pay. In 2019, it was revealed that 306 workers at LADWP earned more than $100,000 in overtime the previous year, in addition to their regular pay. LADWP principal security officer Ricardo Frias earned $313,865 in overtime by clocking 3,764 hours of overtime in 2018. Other security officers earned similarly large amounts in overtime, with one earning $229,117, another earning $221,620, and yet another earning $196,244. These large overtime payouts are enabled by a provision in the union contracts, which requires a normal shift worked after more than one hour of overtime to be paid at double time. Additionally, LADWP's overtime is not based on working more than 40 hours in a week but on working time beyond a "normal" shift. This has led to criticism and outrage from some, who argue that the contracts are "written to enrich the workers as much as possible".
The high overtime pay at LADWP has also been attributed to the utility's staffing policies. In one case, a meter reader was required for a Saturday shift, which also required a local office worker and a supervisor, costing well over $500 per hour for all pay and benefits. It is often cheaper for LADWP to pay overtime than to hire new full-time employees. Additionally, some employees work large amounts of overtime and take a day off per pay period, allowing them to receive paid time off and then work more overtime during the week, earning more than they would have with a straight schedule.
The controversies surrounding LADWP's overtime pay have led to calls for explanations and transparency, with some even suggesting that the FBI investigate the utility for over-compensating employees.
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Frequently asked questions
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the largest municipal utility in the United States and is the sole electrical service provider for the city.
The LADWP has an electric generating capacity of 8,100 megawatts (2021-2022) and delivers electricity to more than 4 million residents and businesses in Los Angeles.
The LADWP maintains a diverse power generation system, with 24% of its capacity coming from natural gas, 21% from coal, 14% from nuclear power, and 2% from hydropower.
The LADWP has invested in renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal. As of 2020, 37% of its capacity came from renewable sources, exceeding its goals for renewable energy use.
