Los Angeles Department of Water & Power

During the year of the pandemic, we did not have a meter person come to our home. I had all my bill paid off for March. Yet once I got my bill it was a false estimate of water and electricity usage. They billed us as using a ridiculous amount of water and electricity, more than we ever had. Even with a four-month inclusive bill it did not make sense to me at all. Now for the last year we have a constant two thousand extra bill that is hard to pay off. It just does not go away. I have written to my government representatives, and no one is responding. Their estimates are corrupt and I have noticed this with many government agencies lately like the DMV. I understand we have all gone through a great deal. Yet something is very wrong here. I have been paying my bills for years and it does not add up. I wonder when the DWP is going to demand we pay our bills... it is really a nightmare. They tell me they will not turn off our water... how long will this last? I called them since the beginning I noticed this and have made sure all is well with our meter. I call them almost every month to remind them I am unhappy. Yet nothing is being done.

Horrible, EVIL company.

I've called twice and each time they either hang up on me or promise to call back and never do.

Some ghett=o guy answers the phone and then you get the usual customer service.

Our water Bill has doubled. Still don't know why. But, this review is for me going in person. I had to prove my identity, since the HOA account was set up by another person twenty years ago.

Made the appointment, fairly easy. Fairly. Got there. Security cleared me. They were behind glass, and masks on. Good job guys!!!

I waited about 15 minutes. Went inside again. One windows had one person, behind glass, wearing a mask. She kindly took care of seeing my ID up. Done in 10 minutes.

Only drawback, I then wanted to discuss the actual bill. "You need another appointment for that."  Oh my goodness.  -1 star for that, even in a pandemic.

Overall, pretty good people, for bureaucrats.

My mother passed away a couple weeks ago and I wanted to change the account's name to my name. Oh boy.. did they sent me through one deep rabbit hole or what?

I felt like those dogs doing agility acrobatics from Westminster Dog Show. Going through hoop through hoop and I eventually got exhausted.

Everyone that I called in for customer service was absolutely vague with clear directions on how to fix this situation I was going through. I felt so lost and the bills amount was ridiculously high even though my home is pretty keen on moderation with electronics and whatnot.

Not only am I going through an emotional rollercoaster with my mother's death but this department also has no professionalism.

Avoid this damn place. Really, avoid it.

UPDATE:
They cancelled my the electricity because the city got notified of my mother's death! So I guess they assume that if someone passes away the entire family that lives with them don't exist huh?

I had no electricity for a whole day with the pettiest service included. I wish I could give 0 as a rating because this is, by far, the worst service I've had in my entire stay here in California.

I can't find the service center on Crenshaw Blvd for Yelp reviews, but the review is written for that site across from Macy's..  

I was in the Crenshaw district last week on business and realized DWP was just blocks away. I thought I would just go and pay early since my payment was not due until next week, because I was in their backyard.

As I approached the door, there was only ONE CUSTOMER INSIDE and many employees behind the counters AT THEIR POSTS.  No other customers were outside but me.  A lady and a security guard came to different doors and told me I needed an appointment.

Gee, one customer inside and only me outside thinking I could pay early since I was in the area.  Well, the lady who went to look for the phone number for me to call to make an appointment took so much time until if they had just let me pay at 10:00 AM, I could have paid and been in my car leaving.  It took so long for her to find some scrap of paper until it was ridiculous.  They were fully staffed behind the counters at respective windows.  

I will not make an appointment and return.  It was a rule for the sake of a rule.  As I walked back to my car in their big lot, no other customer was coming.  Many customers cannot pay utilities on time during the pandemic, so turning away someone paying early was a strange ordeal since I do not live in that area.  I just happened to be nearby.

While the service was not good, I am just thankful that I have been able to always pay on time.

Anything associated with any branch of government seems to be a trick bag.

Hindsight tells me I should have gone to Macy's instead of DWP.

They are THIEVES! They are owned by LA, and apparently we have to pay EVERYONE'S salaries! I wish they had competition. But they are a MONOPOLY so we have NO CHOICE!!! Thanks so much

Simply google LADWP and you'll find a boatload of lawsuits. Criminal company.

The word is
rampant

1a: rearing upon the hind legs with forelegs extended

b: standing on one hind foot with one foreleg raised above the other and the head in profile --used of a heraldic animal

2a: marked by a menacing wildness, extravagance, or absence of restraintrampant rumors

b: profusely widespreadrampant weeds

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) is a perfect example of what's wrong with the world. Impersonal, rude, and selfish. Their customer service is so bad it's actually a cliche. There's a reason why the horrible customer service stereotype exists. It's because of companies like this, who truly don't care about their customers. I'm guessing everyone that works here hates their life, because that's how they treat people. No compassion, understanding, or anything. Unfortunately, they have a little bit of a monopoly here in Los Angeles, so they can get away with their appalling business practices.

The latest and greatest from this company? My friend and I moved out of an apartment about 3 years ago. At the time, my friend, who had the account in his name, forgot, or simply didn't know, that he had to contact this company to turn off service. Anyways, a couple months go by, and in the mail comes a bill for the past couple months of service. Well, that'd be fine, except we aren't the people living at that address anymore. A couple irritable phone calls with the customer service zombies that work there, and no resolution.

Needless to say, three or four years later, we are still trying to get this ~$100-$150 bill resolved. LADWP has given us the run-around so many times that I lost count. You'd think a company of this size would choose to just eat the bill and be the bigger person here, but alas, their selfishness is relentless. It's funny, because they've probably spent the same amount of money as the bill on their salaried employees answering our calls and letters in the mail. It's almost become a joke at this point, but sadly, companies like LADWP exist. This is a reminder to all to shut off their service before moving out of their apartment, because they will screw you over if you don't. I know it's not much, but it's become less about the money, and more about the principle at this point. Really, ladwp? It's $100.

The worst company ever. They turned off my power while I was out of state helping my family during the pandemic. If you can... AVOID THEM. They always charge crazy prices too and I lived alone! and my bills are always high even when I conserved energy.