Our Past and Present, the History of the LADWP's Water and Power systems
LADWP is the largest municipal utility in the nation. Our power system provides about 8,100 megawatts of dependable electric capacity and our water system serves an average of 450 million gallons of water per day to more than 4 million residents of Los Angeles, its businesses and visitors. Supplying water to Los Angeles since 1902 and electricity since 1917, LADWP has continually evolved to meet the needs of our customers and provide reliable water and power service in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.
Water System History
LADWP supplied about 197 billion gallons of water annually for the City of Los Angeles' 676,000 residential and business services from 2007 to 2011. The average resident uses about 140 gallons of water daily. The availability of water has significantly contributed towards the tremendous growth and development of Los Angeles. Since 1902 when the population in Los Angeles was approximately 146,000 to today when the population is approximately 3.8 million, the LADWP has worked hard to ensure that Angelenos receive a safe and reliable water supply.
Power System History
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) supplies more than 26 million megawatt hours of electricity a year for the City of Los Angeles' (Los Angeles) 1.4 million residential and business customers. The average resident uses about 5,900 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. Business and industry consume about 70 percent of the electricity in Los Angeles, but residents constitute the largest number of customers. In addition to serving these consumers, the LADWP lights public streets and highways, powers part of the City's water system, and sells electricity to other utilities.
