Local
Broken meter leaves elderly LA couple with $9,200 water bill
An elderly Los Angeles couple received a water bill exceeding $9,200 after the city utility said their meter had stopped working and earlier usage had not been billed.
NBC Los Angeles reported that retired nurse Joyce Howell and her husband, a Vietnam War veteran, learned that their water meter had been broken for years after their family questioned rising charges.
Bill: More than $9,200
Unbilled period cited: February 2023 through March 2026
Utility response: Long-term payment plan offered
LADWP says past usage remains payable
Documents reviewed by NBC showed that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said the home had not been charged for water during the cited three-year period. LADWP spokesperson Joseph Ramallo said meters sometimes become stuck and that the utility must recover reasonable charges for water that customers used.
The family questioned why the failed meter was not detected sooner. LADWP said it would work with the couple on payment terms they could afford.
Source: NBC Los Angeles →