Pacific Palisades residents are being charged for utilities for the first time since the Palisades Fire in January.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power announced Thursday that it would begin meter reading and billing for residential customers in the neighborhood this week. This marks the first time customers will be billed for water, power, sewer and refuse collection since the region was devastated by a firestorm earlier this year.
Water service billing will include any charges owed before the pause on charges, but customers won't be billed for any consumption between the pause and now, according to the department. Billing is set to resume as usual for the following bill cycle.
Billing will reflect electricity used between the last bill issued before the Palisades fire and the next meter read, the department said. Customers will see a credit for a minimum of one billing cycle on their first bill, in line with the rules for billing.
Fees for refuse collection and sewer fees during the pause were waived by the Department of Sanitation, so although customers will be charged for six months, they will receive a credit for charges in a future bill, the LADWP said.
The Department of Water and Power is offering customers the option to enroll in "extended payment options to pay their bill over time." Customers in the Pacific Palisades will also be exempt from collections through the end of 2025, and outstanding payments will not be considered late.
LA pushes for electrification
The resumption of billing comes just two weeks after Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass introduced the High-performance, Optimized, Modern Electrification for Los Angeles, or HOME LA, Pilot Program through LADWP.
Under the HOME LA initiative, single-family homeowners can receive up to $10,000 in incentives for electrifying their properties. An additional $5,000 in bonus incentives is also available for whole-home batteries.
There are two options to participate in the program: "Whole Home Electrification" and "HOME LA Express."
"Whole Home Electrification" provides bundled incentives for additions such as electric HVAC, water heating systems, cooking appliances and clothes dryers. The express option offers standalone rebates for the installation of electric systems.
For example, homeowners could be eligible for up to $2,500 per ton for heat pump HVAC systems and up to $1,000 for induction cooktops, ranges and wall ovens.
The pilot program is limited to property owners whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the Palisades, Hurst, Kenneth, Archer and Sunset wildfires, the mayor's office said. It's a means to "to help property owners rebuild more resilient, efficient, and environmentally-friendly homes."
