DWP Agrees to Ban on Utility Shut-Offs

Los Angeles residents struggling to pay their bills do not have to worry about their power being shut off during the holiday season, city officials said Friday.

David Wiggs, general manager of the Department of Water and Power, agreed to a moratorium on utility shut-offs until Jan. 15 after a request by the City Council and Mayor James K. Hahn on Friday.

Earlier in the month, Hahn proposed a utility relief measure for the thousands of airport, hotel and restaurant workers who lost their jobs in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The rate cut--which will give qualifying workers a 15% to 50% discount on their DWP bills for a year--was approved by the council on Wednesday.

Vote on Deferral Measure Postponed

But the City Council postponed taking action on a measure that would allow qualifying workers to defer payment on two power bills without penalties.

City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter sent the measure back to committee on Wednesday, saying she had questions about who would pay for the city’s Bureau of Sanitation fees on DWP bills.

The move frustrated the mayor’s office and union leaders, who say that hundreds of workers have received red shut-off notices because they cannot afford to pay their bills.

Madeline Janis-Aparicio, executive director of Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, said after she explained the situation to Galanter, “she was very responsive.”

On Friday, Galanter introduced the motion asking the DWP to delay utility shut-offs until the council can take up the deferral measure again in January.