In September 2025, Los Angeles began a city-wide rollout of Smart Meters through its Department of Water and Power (LADWP), starting in the Lincoln Heights area. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/05/business/la-fi-puc-disconnect5-2010feb05

In October, I called the department with questions on its Smart Meter program, identifying myself as a writer. It took several departments and finally submitting through their customer service web portal to get a response, but eventually LADWP personnel contacted me and promised to get my questions to the right people. These were the questions I sent October 24, 2025 —

1) LADWP’s Smart Grid LA pilot program began in 2013 with 52,000 electric meters.
– Were AMI/Smart Meters also installed in new construction and/or remodels since 2013?
– If so, before LADWP’s rollout began this year, how many electric AMI/Smart Meters were installed in LADWP service territory?

2) Did the electric AMI/Smart Meter rollout this year begin in September? If not, when did it start?

3) Was Lincoln Heights the first location for the AMI/Smart Meter rollout this year? If not, where did it start?

4) What make and model of AMI/Smart Meter is LADWP using? The website shows Itron Centron OpenWay meters which LADWP also used in its pilot program.

5) The pilot program had an opt-out where customers could keep their analog electromechanical meters.
– Does LADWP have an opt-out from this new rollout of AMI/Smart Meters?
– What are the details?
– Is an opt-out available for all customers, residential and commercial?
– Where can a customer find information? There is no information on the AMI page.
– How is LADWP notifying customers of an opt-out? Bill inserts? Brochures?
– Are installers informing customers of an opt-out, and that they have a choice?

6) Where can a customer contact LADWP for more information on the AMI program?

7) Who is the ADA Ombudsman and what is their contact information so that customers disabled by electromagnetic sensitivity or other EMF-sensitive conditions who require an analog electromechanical meter can request ADA disabled accommodation?

8) If I have additional questions, what office and representative can I contact for more information?

– – – – – – –

LADWP’s representative promised me that “subject matter experts” would get me answers. Then silence. On November 13, I contacted them for an update. I received this response November 14 –

Hello Nina, thank you for reaching out. I apologize for the late response on your inquiry.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate your request at this time.

Thank you for understanding.

– – – – – –

I’ve heard nothing further from LADWP since that time.

In the initial pilot, LADWP gave a free opt-out to customers due to public pressure. Opt-outs do very little, especially for those who live in apartments or condos with banks of meters and due to the mesh network. But now it appears there isn’t even an opt-out, and no information for customers other than the webpage. However, last year, when I called the customer service number listed on that page – https://www.ladwp.com/who-we-are/power-system/advanced-metering-infrastructure#contact-us – the representatives didn’t have information on Smart Meters and didn’t even get me to the right department.

In November 2025, I spoke to the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council, alerting them to Smart Meter problems, and providing follow-up information, and on November 21, 2025, I wrote to the Los Angeles Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado from that district. There was no response.