Bel Air and Holmby Hills residents who pay LADWP bills got some relief Tuesday, Oct. 20, when Mayor Karen Bass asked the utility's board to halt shutoffs through year's end.

The move came after Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers across the city reported summer bills doubling or tripling. Some households saw charges climb by thousands of dollars.

"No LADWP customer who is unable to pay their residential bill will have their electricity or water turned off for the remainder of this year," Bass said, according to KTLA.

The bill spikes have hit homeowners hard. Encino resident Micah Reed told KTLA his bill came to $3,322. Last year, he said, the same period cost around $2,500. A Canoga Park resident identified as Roshae told the station she received a September bill for $3,355, then a past-due notice for $24,635.30 on a 1,600-square-foot house with no pool.

LADWP attributed the increases to its bimonthly billing cycle capturing August and September charges during what it called the city's hottest summer on record.

Beyond the shutoff pause request, Bass outlined additional steps. Customers can pay what they can afford and set up payment arrangements with no interest for up to 24 months. Starting in November, the utility will send every residential customer information about their electricity usage.

Bass also encouraged enrollment in the Level Pay program, which spreads costs over 12 months. She pointed low-income seniors and households to the Lifeline and EZ-Save discount programs. Residents can call 1-800-342-5397 for help.

Reed launched a petition that had gathered more than 31,000 signatures as of Oct. 20, demanding City Controller Kenneth Mejia conduct an independent forensic audit of LADWP's rate structure. Mejia responded on social media Oct. 7, saying he had requested information from LADWP "to understand more about the rates they charge and why."

Both mayoral candidates have made LADWP bills a campaign issue ahead of the Nov. 3 election. City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who represents District 4 and is challenging Bass, said at a Monday, Oct. 19, press conference that bills have increased 40% citywide during Bass' tenure, according to ABC7.

Raman also said LADWP has not appeared before the Los Angeles City Council to explain its rates in years. KTLA reported she cited 2016 as the last time, though a separate KTLA report placed the date at 2020. The accounts were not reconciled.

"These increases are hidden in what the DWP calls 'adjustment factors,'" Raman said, according to KTLA. "Under this mayor, these hidden charges now make up more than two-thirds of the full cost."

Bass' office disputed that framing, saying Raman voted to increase LADWP bills last year. A Raman spokesperson denied the accusation in an email to KTLA, saying Raman has never voted to raise water and electricity rates.

A September survey of 809 likely Los Angeles voters by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates showed Raman leading Bass 39% to 35%, with 25% undecided. After an exchange of critical information about both candidates, the race tightened to Bass 40%, Raman 39%. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.