Discontinuation of Collection-Based Water and Power Shutoffs for Non-Payment during Extreme Weather Events
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Policy and Practices for Discontinuation of Residential Water Service for Nonpayment
On September 28, 2018, the State of California enacted a new law (Senate Bill 998, Stat. 2018, Ch. 891) to include a new chapter of the California Health and Safety Code Section 116990 et seq., known as the "California Water Shutoff Protection Act" (the Act). The Act requires all public water systems with 200 or more services, which includes the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), to have a written policy on discontinuation of residential water service for nonpayment that includes alternative payment schedules, a formal mechanism for a customer to contest or appeal a bill, and a telephone number for a customer to call to discuss options to avoid discontinuation of residential service for nonpayment. The complete Policy is available for viewing and downloading in the languages listed below.
In compliance with Senate Bill 998, LADWP adopted the current Water Service Disconnection Policy listed above. Year to date, LADWP discontinued water service for 2,844 accounts that were 60 days delinquent or more.
| Reporting Period | Number of Residential Water Disconnections |
|---|---|
| January 1 - December 31, 2025 | 4,133 |
| Reporting Period | Number of Residential Water Disconnections |
|---|---|
| January 2026 | 757 |
| February 2026 | 855 |
| March 2026 | 532 |
| April 2026 | 700 |
| 2026 Year-to-Date Total | 2,844 |
Important Information Regarding Disconnect Notices to Leased/Rented Residential Properties
Per Public Utilities Code §§ 10009–10009.1 and Health & Safety Code §116916, if the landlord of the residential property is the customer of record and the account is in arrears, then any residential tenant of the property has the right to apply to become a customer of the LADWP, to whom service will then be billed, without being required to pay the amount of the delinquent account. To apply, the tenant must establish credit with the LADWP and may be required to pay a deposit. For assistance with starting service, customers may contact the LADWP Customer Contact Center at 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397) or visit any LADWP Customer Service Center.
Residential Tenant – Potential Service Disconnection Due to Non-Payment by Landlord Form
This form should be filled out and submitted by any residential tenant who currently is or was listed as the customer of record on an LADWP bill and, on or after May 5, 2021, was made responsible for their landlord’s LADWP account debt in order to start or maintain service. This may have occurred by agreeing to a backdated start date, accepting a balance transfer from the landlord’s account, or making a payment toward the landlord’s bill. If an error is confirmed, LADWP will issue a bill credit or take other steps to make the customer whole.