Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the nation's largest municipally-owned utility, providing safe, reliable and affordable electric and water service to nearly 4 million people. More than 8,800 employees of LADWP serve the City of Los Angeles, providing water and power in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.

Since 2000, LADWP's energy efficiency programs have saved more than a billion kilowatt-hours and reduced electricity demand by almost 300 MW – enough to offset the construction of a mid-sized power plant. On the water front, LADWP's water efficiency programs have enabled the City of Los Angeles to maintain the same overall water usage over the last 40 years despite population growth of over 1 million people in the same time frame. LADWP joined the Better Buildings Challenge as a Utility Ally in 2012. As a Utility Ally, LADWP will offer automated data upload into ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager and coordinate multi-measure program offerings for its customers. LADWP will also partner with the regional gas utility to offer combined electric/water/gas programs to customers, a nation-leading first at this scale.

In early 2015, LADWP broadened its commitment to energy efficiency by joining the Better Plants Challenge, agreeing to reduce the energy intensity of all its water treatment plants and 80 pumping stations by 25% over ten years. This builds on the utility’s existing internal sustainability strategy that features four major thrusts:

Assess current state of facilities – Analyze, benchmark, establish metrics
Engage internal stakeholders – employees (Green Team), executives
Set policy and procedure – Set targets, metering, training, embed commitment
Make it happen! – Define projects, allocate internal resources, execute, ingrain into policies/procedures

Working with the Mayor and City Council, LADWP is creating a clean energy future for Los Angeles and planning for a sustainable water future — one that addresses drought conditions by reducing reliance on expensive imported purchased water, and increasing conservation and local water resource development. Throughout this process, LADWP continues to provide reliable water and power service to Los Angeles residents and businesses, while maintaining competitive rates that remain among the lowest in California.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power received a 2022 Better Practice Award for successfully incorporating demand response into its water operations and reducing pumping load during peak periods, resulting in an average demand reduction of 7.1 MW per event and 45 tons of CO₂ emissions avoided.

PORTFOLIO-WIDE LEADERSHIP COMMITMENTS

50% emissions reductions in 10 years

25% reduction in energy intensity

Presentation

Waste Not: Pursuing Zero Waste

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Waste Not: Pursuing Zero Waste

Implementation Model

LADWP: Using Demand Response to Support Los Angeles’ Grid and Reduce Emissions

Presentation

Best of the Betters: 2022 Better Practice Winners

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Best of the Betters: 2022 Better Practice Winners

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Barriers and Solutions to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the Water Facilities

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Barriers and Solutions to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the Water Facilities

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Better Plants Challenge, U.S. Department of Energy

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Better Plants Challenge, U.S. Department of Energy

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Community/Utility Partnerships That emPOWER Success

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Community/Utility Partnerships That emPOWER Success

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Addressing the Energy-Water Nexus: The Next Wave of Challenges and Solutions

Presentation

Addressing the Energy-Water Nexus: The Next Wave of Challenges and Solutions

Showcase Project

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP): John Ferraro Building

Presentation

Going with the Flow: Water Utilities Enhancing Energy Efficiency, Management, and Recovery

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Going with the Flow: Water Utilities Enhancing Energy Efficiency, Management, and Recovery

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Energy/Water Nexus: Not Just a Drop in the Bucket

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Energy/Water Nexus: Not Just a Drop in the Bucket

Showcase Project

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: Los Angeles Aqueduct Filtration Plant Modernization – Oxygen Plant Replacement

Tools

LADWP Retrocommissioning Express (RCx) Program Fact Sheet

Tools

LADWP Retrocommissioning Express (RCx) Program Palm Card

Tools

Master Inter-Utility Agreement between Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Southern California Gas Company

Presentation

Breaking Down Barriers to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Deployment in Water and Waste

Presentation

Breaking Down Barriers to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Deployment in Water and Waste

Implementation Model

LADWP Partnership With SoCalGas Delivers Comprehensive Efficiency Programs

Solutions

Leadership Commitments

Better Climate Challenge

Goal

Commitment

Better Plants Challenge

Goal

Commitment

DOE Program Participation