Los AEngels (July 3, 2024) – As the Southland, including Los Angeles, prepares to face a severe heat wave this week, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is sharing public safety tips and resources that will assist customers and help mitigate the impacts of high heat events.
LADWP's top priority is the safety and well-being of its customers. Extreme heat can pose serious health risks and can impact elderly and low-income customers the most, as they may try to reduce costs by not using their air conditioners or may not have access to air conditioning altogether. LADWP wants to assure its customers that their safety is paramount, and the department is committed to providing reliable service and the support and resources customers need to stay safe and cool. The Department is also actively working to complete necessary replacements or upgrades to its critical power infrastructure ahead of the summer season. While extreme heat events were previously considered emergencies, they are now the new normal and the Department prioritizes this reality in all of its operations.
LADWP's ongoing preparedness for extreme weather events, particularly extreme heat
LADWP has invested nearly $1.2 billion in the past year to proactively replace and upgrade older equipment through its Power System Reliability Program (PSRP). These investments strengthen the electric grid and provide protection against power outages during extreme weather events. LADWP has made significant progress since the program’s inception in 2008 and, as a result, service reliability remains strong, although the Department is continually striving to improve it.
Recognizing the significant impacts that climate change will have on our community – particularly our most vulnerable – LADWP’s Power System has developed a robust Heat Readiness Program. Along with the PSRP program, it will help ensure the department stays ahead of any challenges that may arise. Action plans include mobilizing staff and deploying them to strategic locations with the necessary resources to do their jobs quickly and safely, as well as improving the way we replace, stock, and replenish our infrastructure equipment.
stay safe, stay calm
During extreme heat events, LADWP encourages customers to conserve energy, but never at the expense of their health or safety. No customer should have to turn off their AC due to financial concerns. LADWP offers flexible payment plans, financial assistance programs Easy-Save and continues to encourage customers to enroll Level Salary program. Level Pay is a bill payment option that divides a customer's estimated utility bill into predictable, equal monthly amounts that allow for easier budgeting. To sign up for Level Pay, customers can call 1-800-DIAL-DWP and speak to a customer service representative.
LADWP is also offering $75 off on window ACs under its umbrella. Cool LA InitiativeAn increase from last years $50 discount. For more information on the discount and how to apply, visit www.ladwp.com/epm.
Additional tips for staying cool:
- Drink plenty of water and drink more fluids, especially if you drink coffee or soda.
- If you feel sick, tell someone immediately. Symptoms of dehydration and heat illness can include dizziness, fatigue, fainting, nausea, muscle cramps, headache and vomiting. Symptoms of heat stroke can include the same symptoms as heat illness, plus high body temperature (103°F or higher); hot, red, dry or moist skin and/or a fast, strong pulse.
- In case of heatstroke:
- Call 911 immediately; heat stroke is a medical emergency
- move the person to a cool place
- help lower the person's temperature with a cool cloth or cool bath
- do not give the person anything to drink
For additional tips and a list of cooling centers in the City of Los Angeles, Click here,
What to do if there is a power outage during extreme heat
In the event of a power outage, be prepared and stay safe by following some valuable tips below:
- If the temperature is unsafe, find a place to cool down.
- Keep a flashlight and extra batteries nearby. Never use candles as a light source in case of a power outage or other emergency.
- Keep a fully charged cell phone or cell-phone battery pack with you. These come in handy when computers or “landlines” stop working due to a power outage.
- Leave one light on so you'll know when power is restored. Turn off all other lights.
- Turn off and unplug electrical appliances and equipment such as computers, televisions, and air conditioners, as well as heat-producing appliances such as irons or hot plates. This helps prevent circuit overloading, which can delay service restoration.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to protect their contents.
- And remember, never touch a downed power line! Stay away and call 911.
How to report a power outage, view LADWP’s outage map, and receive outage information
If power is out, customers can report it by calling 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397) or www.ladwp.com/outages. Using the same landing page, customers can track crew status for their outages via the department’s recently revised outage map and/or sign up to receive outage alerts via email and/or text for the three communities.
New features have been added to the Outage Map website, making it easier to navigate. Customers can now see how many customers are affected by an outage based on the size of the point on the map, while its color indicates the status of the outage. What remains unchanged is the ability for visitors to click on a point to access additional information about a specific outage, such as the start time of the outage and the estimated time of restoration.
Other resources for information during extreme heat:
National Weather Service of Los Angeles
Flex Alert information from the California Independent System Operator
LADWP will continue to provide safety tips, conservation tips and other relevant information to its customers through various social media channels (@ladwp on X and Facebook, @ladwp1 on Instagram). LADWP Newsroom And on Nextdoor.
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