DWP Billing System is Still a Mess … Where’s the Ratepayer’s Voice?

JUST THE FACTS-The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power billing and customer service centers have a terrible reputation when it comes to serving the people of Los Angeles in a smooth and efficient manner. 

Long waits at the Customer Service Centers are common and the telephone service operations are slow and frustrating. Who do we blame for this situation – DWP’s General Manager, the Mayor, the LA City Councilmembers or the DWP union? It’s surely not the ratepayers that are responsible for the many problems associated with the DWP.         

To illustrate a problem that many of you have encountered, I will use my most recent DWP bill as an example. Since I am single and live alone, my water and power use is very small, yet my current bill is $1,830.25. This is all about the DWP not having a billing system that works well for consumers or the department. 

The newest DWP Billing System cost millions to implement and it has not worked out as expected.   Currently, the over $40 million multi-claimant lawsuit against the DWP over faulty billing is still not settled. And it is costing them millions to defend. With all this going on, you would expect the City Controller would open an audit of the DWP and its various operations. While the DWP runs into more litigation with ratepayers, Controller Ron Galperin, who was recently given a “C” grade by the LA Times in both leadership and effectiveness, is spending millions to audit the DWP Union Joint Training and Safety Institute trust fund. This shows a lack of ability to truly represent the people of Los Angeles. 

Along with the DWP’s problems, there is the Ratepayer Advocate, Dr. Fred Pickel, who is paid $279,000 a year to review DWP rates and represent the people of our city. But Dr. Pickel has failed the ratepayers time and time again.    

To sum up this situation, I will simply say: watch out for the next increase in your water and power rates.       

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Sadness in Paris with multiple innocent people killed.  Terrorism is not going away.  We all need to be aware of the changing world we all live in.  Be aware and alert and work with your police officers. 

I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

 

 

(Dennis P.  Zine is a 33 year member of the Los Angeles Police Department and former Vice-Chairman of the Elected Los Angeles City Charter Reform Commission, 12 year member of the Los Angeles City Council and current LAPD Reserve Officer. He writes Just the Facts for CityWatch. You can contact him at [email protected]) Photo: LA Times. Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.

-cw

 

 

CityWatch

Vol 13 Issue 3

Pub: Nov 17, 2015

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