Is LADWP Ready for an Electric Los Angeles?
Los Angeles, the city of sunshine and dreams, is at the forefront of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, with a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. However, a significant roadblock stands in the way of its electric future: delays in approving electrical infrastructure and load modifications by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). These bureaucratic bottlenecks, stemming from allegations of corruption and incompetence, threaten to hinder the city's transition to an electrified future, which is crucial for the next generation that will rely heavily on electricity.
The Vision for an Electric Los Angeles
The City of Los Angeles has set ambitious goals to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A key component of this vision involves the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and phasing out gas appliances like stoves, water heaters, and HVAC equipment to decrease reliance on fossil fuels. Transitioning to electric transportation and appliances is essential for reducing carbon emissions and achieving a sustainable, clean energy future. It is estimated that users today use 10 times the electricity they did in the 1950s. Much of Los Angele’s outdated electrical system was being developed at that time, and many apartments still use electrical system dating to that time period. While increasing energy efficiency has helped, new uses like those mentioned above have a profound impact on building energy usage.
Delays in Electrical Load Approvals
One major roadblock to achieving these goals is the sluggish pace at which LADWP approves electrical load increases, particularly for loads exceeding 400 amperes. These modifications are necessary for accommodating EV charging infrastructure and upgrading electrical systems to support electric stoves on any structure containing more than four units. A sophisticated developer client became so concerned about the LADWP electrical requirements on a recent 7 unit project that they scaled down the project to only four units to remain under the 400 ampere connected load threshold. And to be clear — 400 amperes for a total of four modern three bedroom units is truly not “sufficient” power for the structure; it should be considered the bare minimum.
But, who could blame them? The time to approval is too long.
Lengthy Approval Times: It can take over 12 months for LADWP to approve connected loads over 400 amperes. Such extensive delays hinder property owners, developers, and businesses from swiftly adapting to the changing energy landscape. These delays are detrimental to the growth of EV charging infrastructure and the adoption of electric appliances.
Inefficiency and Ineffectiveness: Allegations of corruption and incompetence within the LADWP have further exacerbated the approval process. These allegations undermine public trust and hinder the agency's ability to effectively manage the city's evolving energy needs. Simple actions like “encroachment applications” which require LADWP to review whether proposed plans interfere with existing electrical equipment could easily be handled by self certification from contractors, engineers, and surveyors, rather than the existing process which relies on submission of a paper copy of building plans to an inspector.
Inefficiencies and Potential Corruption: The slow review process raises concerns about potential inefficiencies and corruption within the department, further jeopardizing Los Angeles' ability to transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. In multiple cases, there is evidence that “accelerated” processing times can be achieved through under the table payments. While the department has sought out such schemes, with the tremendous financial strain put on developers to operate quickly, the only true solution is a system that does not delay project approvals.
Conclusion
The City of Los Angeles' commitment to an electric future, marked by the adoption of EV charging infrastructure and electric appliances, is laudable. However, the progress is hampered by the persistent delays in approving electrical load modifications and encroachment reviews by LADWP. Allegations of corruption and incompetence cast a dark shadow over these bureaucratic processes, eroding public confidence in the agency responsible for facilitating Los Angeles' transition to cleaner energy sources.
To realize its vision of a greener, more electrified city, Los Angeles must address these issues promptly. It is imperative to streamline approval processes, improve transparency, and restore public trust in LADWP. Only then can the city adequately prepare for the next generation that will heavily rely on electricity, ensuring a sustainable and cleaner future for all Angelenos.
