Angelenos packed Tuesday’s Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners meeting to voice concerns over rising utility bills, while others gathered in the halls to watch a livestream.
Micah Reed, a former UCLA football player and creator of the “Cap the Heat Tax” petition, formally addressed the board, joining numerous other petition signers who also spoke out. Reed delivered the petition, which had garnered nearly 40,000 signatures in less than four weeks, and called for an independent audit. He thanked both mayoral candidates Nithya Raman and Karen Bass for calling for the same.
“I am not here to argue how much power my family used,” Reed said. “I am here because I can’t tell how my bill was calculated.”
Reed urged the board to be transparent about how bills are calculated, posing three main questions: “Who will conduct it, when will it start, and will the results be made public?”
Commission President Allan T. Marks said LADWP should and does provide transparency, but acknowledged that the department could do a better job educating the public about how and why customers are charged. He said the department is moving toward smart meters, which will improve efficiency and allow it to bill customers monthly rather than send out larger bills every two months.
Marks said LADWP’s tiered rate structure means customers who use more power, particularly during the summer months, can face significantly higher bills. He also discussed a resolution introduced during Tuesday’s meeting aimed at providing customers with more information about their electricity usage and bills. Marks said he believed the information customers currently receive is delayed by two months and that the resolution aims to address the issue.
Credit: Courtesy of the Los Angeles Department of Water and PowerHe said he hoped providing this information would help customers conserve energy.
Marks also pointed to unusually high summer temperatures, noting that Los Angeles experienced approximately 15 extreme heat alerts this year, compared with five in 2025. He said the heat was driving up utility bills.
He estimated that Angelenos could save an average of 3% to 6% on the electricity portion of their bills for every degree they raise their thermostats.
“I’m a customer. All of the commissioners are customers,” Marks said, adding that he had also seen rising costs on his own bills. “If you adjust your thermostat on a hot day … and you set your thermostat from 72 to 73, you’re going to save money.”
Marks called the issue “really difficult” but said LADWP takes it seriously. He added, however, that customers ultimately have to pay for the energy they use.
Marks said LADWP cannot legally forgive bills and encouraged customers to apply for relief programs, adding that any customer could take advantage of them. He acknowledged that the department could do a better job providing information and explaining bills.
“I don’t want to blame any rate payers, it’s not our fault as rate payers, but the usage is going to cost more money,” Marks said. “If I had more gas in my car, I’m going to pay more and if the price per gallon goes up, then my bill is going to go up.”
Marks assured attendees that their public comments would inform future discussions about LADWP developments. He also acknowledged an idea raised in public comment to establish a public-facing dashboard, calling it a good idea.
Raul Claros, an adviser to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and founder of the civic-advocacy group California Rising, also addressed the board. Claros previously served on two city commissions during his tenure under multiple mayors.
“I’m here representing the parents who are maintaining households during summer heatwaves, winter storms and the small businesses that are surviving Covid relief or recovery inflation rates,” Claros said. “We need transparency so that the accountability can finally come.”
Claros, who signed Reed’s petition, called for more than an audit of LADWP, demanding a full overhaul of the department.
In his opening remarks, Marks said relief would come over time. Claros pushed back, telling the board that Angelenos need relief now. He asked commissioners how they planned to provide relief to struggling residents before the next El Niño storm.
Claros argued that residents should not bear the burden of rising temperatures and suggested LADWP might need a “full overhaul.” He questioned why the Department of Water and Power also handles sanitation fees and raised concerns about employee salaries and overtime.
He said the community was tired of lengthy explanations and wants answers.
“We also hope that relief happens now, not in 2035,” Claros said. “You guys are notorious for being on the wrong side of history, so I think no better time than now for a full overhaul of LADWP.”
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