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LA County approves water bill forgiveness for some firestorm survivors
Fallon Prockiw-Kline, center, in front of her home. It was destroyed by the Palisades Fire, in Malibu.
(
Etienne Laurent
/
Associated Press
)
Topline:
L.A. County will reimburse or forgo charging water fees for people who were displaced by the Palisades, Franklin and Broad fires and are looking to rebuild their homes and businesses.
Why now: The L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved the motion Tuesday without discussion. Details on the motion are here.
Why it matters: Many of the homes that were damaged or destroyed during the fires “incurred leaks and damaged pipes,” according to L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who authored the motion. The damages lead to “significant water charges” before the pipes could be manually closed off by firefighters or utility crews.
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Helping survivors rebuild: Horvath also noted that the water district typically levies fees and charges on new or redeveloped structures. However, “given that most of [the projects in the area] will be simple reconnections to the system,” she added, the district “should forgo charging, or refund, water supply charges and other fees.”
What else to know: The county estimates around $6 million in lost revenue to cover the potential water bill forgiveness and refunds. The motion went into effect on Tuesday. Los Angeles County Waterworks District No. 29 will review affected accounts and issue final bills accordingly, reflecting any applicable relief. If you have questions, call (877) 637-366.
The backstory: In late January, the county instructed water companies to “work cooperatively with affected customers to resolve unpaid bills and minimize disconnections for nonpayment.” This included extending “reasonable payment options to affected customers.”
Read on… for more LAist’s wildfire recovery guide.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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