LA Man Shocked by $13,000 LADWP Utility Bill After Years of Billing Errors

LADWP Billing Nightmare

• 💡 A Los Angeles man, Will Ventress, was shocked by a $13,000 utility bill from LADWP after experiencing years of billing issues.
• 📌 Ventress moved into his home in 2020 and insists he notified LADWP of his new address repeatedly, but did not receive bills.
• ⚠️ During the COVID moratorium in March 2020, he faced long hold times when trying to resolve the issue.

Escalating Charges and Estimated Bills

• 📈 The bill initially reached over $13,000, with a disconnection notice sent for March 2025.
• 🧩 A supervisor at LADWP admitted a 50/50 fault for not sending bills and ignoring attempts to correct the address.
• 💰 A reduction of $2,500 was applied, and Ventress made a $3,000 payment, with the remainder going on a payment plan.
• 📊 However, new charges were added due to LADWP not reading his water meter since 2022, resulting in estimated charges of around $5,000.

Legal Precedent and Resolution

• ⚖️ Timothy Blood, an attorney who previously represented LADWP customers in a 2017 settlement over billing system issues, noted the agency's ongoing customer service problems.
• 🤝 After FOX 11 intervened, LADWP stated they would wave the majority of the disputed balance on Ventress's bill, acknowledging a unique case.
• 💰 The final amount Ventress may owe could be as low as $700-$800, pending official confirmation on paper.

Impact on Customers

• 😥 The stress, sleepless nights, and emotional toll on customers dealing with such billing errors are significant, as highlighted by the reporter.
• 📢 Resources and links to groups that help LADWP customers band together are available on the foxla.com website.