When a California Utility Bill Feels Like a Second Mortgage | Panel

By Siyamak Khorrami
Siyamak Khorrami
Siyamak Khorrami
Siyamak Khorrami has been the general manager and chief editor of the Southern California edition of The Epoch Times since 2017. He is also the host of the “California Insider” show, which showcases leaders and professionals across the state with inside information about trending topics and critical issues in California.
October 31, 2026Updated: October 31, 2026

In California, keeping a home cool can put substantial pressure on household budgets. In Los Angeles’s San Fernando Valley, one resident received a combined bill of $3,322 for water and power, plus sewer and sanitation services from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

He said he had already made improvements intended to reduce his home’s energy use. That points to a larger concern in hotter neighborhoods: how much control households have over their bills when keeping cool requires more electricity.

Micah Reed, the Valley resident who started a petition after receiving that bill, describes his search for answers.

Johnny Graham, CEO of Pacific United Power, draws on the residential bills he reviews across Southern California to discuss the pressures facing households and what meaningful relief would require.

Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the California Insider Show.

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