Seniors Receive Free Air Conditioners, Utility Bill Discounts and Heat Safety Resources at Cool LA Heat Relief Event Hosted by City Partners

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LOS ANGELES - Hundreds of seniors received portable room air conditioners distributed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Los Angeles Department of Aging, and KBLA Talk 1580 free of charge. Angelenos who attended the giveaway event in Watts were also able to sign up on-the-spot for LADWP financial assistance programs such as EZ-SAVEand Lifeline, and learn about other money-saving programs. LADWP recruiters were also available to talk about job opportunities.

"As we continue to experience record-breaking heat, these resources can be lifesaving for our most vulnerable Angelenos," said Mayor Karen Bass."Thank you to our partners for locking arms with the City to ensure that we were able to provide this community the resources they require to stay safe this summer."

"We know the City of Los Angeles is experiencing an increasing number of hot days, year over year, and that some areas, and some populations, are more vulnerable than others," said Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker of Council District 15."This is why it is critically important to hold events like this one for our seniors in Watts. Residents in this community, especially our seniors, endure unhealthy temperatures several degrees hotter than surrounding areas due to heat retention by pavement and buildings."

The event aimed to help seniors manage the risk of heat impacts, especially in warmer areas like Watts. "We are committed to keeping our customers - especially vulnerable members of the community such as seniors - safe from the dangers of extreme heat," said Nurit Katz, Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioner."This program helps ensure that all LADWP customers have access to cooling as we face increased heat with climate change."

LADWP CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñonesstated that a commitment to serving every Angeleno and making sure customers are equipped with the tools and resources to manage their bills are core to the utility's mission. "This event is part of our Powered by Equityinitiative which ensures that everyone in L.A. can take part in and benefit equitably from the transition to clean energy," said Quiñones. "It was important to us to give away air conditioners in Watts and provide information about utility bill discounts because customers need to be able to mitigate the impact of extreme heat. We want to make sure that the programs we design are inclusive and don't leave anyone behind."

As the city experiences extreme heat, Mayor Bass is encouragingAngelenos to stay safe during the excessive heat warning in the Los Angeles region. This month, she announced that she directed the City to take immediate action to protect Angelenos and released resources to assist Angelenos in staying cool. Read more about the resources for Angelenos here.