Pasadena Water & Power

Rude customer service. Interrupts, get confused, is confusing.

The worst. Numerous issues with autopay, resulting in an unexpected shut off the same day the only «final» notice was delivered by mail. $ 80 to reinstate because the mailing address was correct. Still don’t understand exorbitant billing system. Going to take more than a few light bulbs to fix this.

The worst company ever to deal with. You get run around when you have any problems. We have a power line on our roof that pulled off our roof and was told they would help us. Freddie and Marco have voicemails that are always full and no one else responds to emails, phone calls or their emergency line. One department doesn’t talk to the others and completely unorganized. What can you do though? You have to use them but this company is ran more poorly than anything I have seen.

Numerous issues with their autopay system. Inability to view past bills/​statements online. Overall, very inefficient.

The municipal monopoly is some bizarre throwback to a 1930s market of corrupt unions and blatant racketeering. A company owned wholly by the city with an exclusive contract to deliver services while banning all competition. A service provider owned and operated by the same people responsible for compliance and enforcement. I can’t possibly imagine what might go wrong there. Pasadena Water and Power has nothing on the mind-​numbing thievery and ineptitude of its big brother, Los Angeles, but it’s not through a lack of trying.
For the year that I was a customer, I lived in a studio apartment the size of a petri dish. My energy usage consisted of nothing more than a single energy-​efficient light bulb, a refrigerator, and a laptop charged each evening. My bill? Over $ 100 a month. They have a Byzantine system of adding fees and not including them on the bill, or sending out an incorrect bill, or sending multiple bills at the same time with different amount on them, then fining you when you make an incorrect payment. I was routinely charged $ 50+ simply for being a few cents short on a payment because they added some weird fee at the last minute, or because I’d paid the bill dated May 5^th and not the one dated May 6^th. And God help you if that 10c discrepancy has them turn your power off: it can take up to three days for some clown to flick the required switch and turn it back on again. Their telephone help services are non-​existent. Visiting City Hall, you have to deal with the usual array of city workers who speak no English and provide no service yet get paid more than me (with that beautiful tax-​subsidized pension — yay). They have, however, received extensive training in the art of eyerolling, shrugging, and passing the buck. Several have a masters degree in patronizing. I was routinely told that my bills were accurate and to stop being so cheap. And the beauty of the system is that you have zero choice — you can’t tell ‘em to go fuck themselves and transfer to the competition. It’s a set-​up right out of 70s Bulgaria.
In the year I’ve been with Southern California Edison, I’ve lived in an apartment that is twice the size using at least four times the electricity, yet my monthly bill is a third of what is was in Pasadena. Go figure. The criminal extortion by city services (don’t get me started on the parking gestapo) is a major reason why I’d think twice about moving back there.

PWP has kept us in the dark, figuratively and literally for over two days. This sucks.

Utility companies rarely, if ever, get mentioned on my list of positive consumer experiences. They tend to elicit negative emotions, due primarily to the pain I feel every time that damned bill (and subsequent pink notice) comes in the mail. In fact, I cringe when I receive any communication whatsoever from a utility company. That is, until now.
The other day I received a strange box in the mail from Pasadena Water & Power. Inside the box were two (2) brand-​new compact fluorescent light bulbs — and they were free. I thought that was a pretty cool thing for them to do, but that wasn’t all… no! Also inside the box was an order form for an additional $ 75 worth of free CF bulbs! All I had to do was fill out the form and choose any combination of 15 different types (small, big, standard spiral type, decorative globe type, reflector type, outdoor flood, and even a 3-​way type for floor lamps).
So…in addition to sending me free stuff that would lower my bill, they were actually giving me a choice about it? A power company???
Needless to say, I immediately began searching the house, expecting to find a video camera in my toaster and Ashton Kutcher hiding in the closet with a lamp shade on his head. To my surprise and relief, I found no such things. But now that I think about it, I forgot to check the attic…

Word up, homies!!!
Like Chris, I just got 2 free energy saving bulbs, and a voucher for 75 $ towards some more bulbs!!!
Hell, I don’t think I’ll need to light up the crib for another 10 years! Not to mention my bill will see a decrease considering I already had energy saving light bulbs to begin with – I’ll be keepin’ it goin’ full steam!
I love Pasadena, Pasadena’s rich!