Side by side (CA, EIA-861)
| Metric | Los Angeles Department of Water & Power | City of Pasadena |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 23.84 | 25.98 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 22.99 | 24.14 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $2,575 | $2,806 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 1,410,191 | 58,551 |
| Ownership | Municipal | Municipal |
| Counties served in CA | 2 | 1 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Los Angeles Department of Water & Power · City of Pasadena · California overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Los Angeles county (CA, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Los Angeles Department of Water & Power and City of Pasadena do not compete for the same meters. California is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (cpuc.ca.gov). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Los Angeles Department of Water & Power cheaper than City of Pasadena?
- Yes — in 2024 Los Angeles Department of Water & Power customers averaged 23.84 cents/kWh versus 25.98 for City of Pasadena (EIA-861). Los Angeles Department of Water & Power was cheaper by 2.14 cents, about $231 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from City of Pasadena to Los Angeles Department of Water & Power?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. California has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is City of Pasadena more expensive than Los Angeles Department of Water & Power?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between City of Pasadena and Los Angeles Department of Water & Power territory all feed the 2.14-cent gap.