Legal Question in Consumer Law in California

I have lived in 5 different cities in the last 15 years, and recently I moved to Los Angeles area. I have never had problems paying my utility bills. They have always been affordable and manageable. However, after moving here, I am constantly appalled at LADWP company and their billing practices. Not only am I getting $900 bills which are due immediately and contain hundreds of dollars in extra fees and surcharges, they immediately threaten to cut of my vital utilities if I don't pay the bill in full immediately.

What REALLY gets me about all this, is that I have no choice, other than to move. Los Angeles owns the Water, Power and Sanitation utility company, and they don't allow private companies to provide those services.

We are a normal 2 person family. We don't have kids, we don't use excess water or power. We have low-power Efficient lighting with motion sensors and we are always cold because we refuse to turn the heat up. $900 for 60 days of service is criminal!

To make it even more unfair, they charge us hundreds of dollars in surcharges which they explain as fees to cover the discounts of those who can't afford to pay their utility bill (Seniors, low income, etc) Why should I pay for that? And why is it okay to make it so *I* can't afford my bill because other's can't?

On top of all that, it says right on my bill, that my rates are calculated based upon where I live in the city and how warm it is. Why should it be different? Rates should be averaged across all customers!

My question is, can we legally do something about this? I really feel that the city is unfairly causing undue hardship on it's customers by forcing us to use their services at horrendously high rates and also unfairly calculating my costs, and then causing horrible mental anguish if I don't pay the full balance immediately by immediate sending shut off notices.

Water, electricity and sanitation are vital and fundamental needs to live. I accept that I should pay costs for these services, but I should not be forcibly taken advantage of and caused distress in order to have them.


Asked on 3/06/12, 6:39 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
George Shers Law Offices of Georges H. Shers

Your problems are part of the reason that some people do not want public entities to run public services that a private business could operate. You can complain to the City Council but there is little else you can do.

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Answered on 3/07/12, 9:03 am


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