How to Pay Your California DWP Bill Online, by Phone, or Mail

California DWP accepts payments through their website, phone line, mail, and in-person at payment centers

The Department of Water and Power (DWP) serves Los Angeles and parts of Kern and Inyo counties. You can pay your bill the same day you receive it or wait until the due date printed on your statement — DWP does not charge a fee for any standard payment method. The fastest way is online through your DWP account, which takes about five minutes. If you do not have internet access or prefer not to use it, phone and mail are equally reliable.

Your bill shows a due date, not a important date. Payments received after that date incur a late charge, which DWP adds to your next bill. If you are on a fixed income or have trouble paying in full, DWP offers programs that may reduce your bill or spread payments over time — those are separate from the payment methods described here.

Key Takeaways

• Online payment through your DWP account is fastest and shows confirmation when ready, with no fees for standard processing.
• Phone payments (1-800-342-5397) take about ten minutes and work even if you do not have a DWP account number handy.
• Mail payments should be sent to the address on your bill at least ten business days before the due date to arrive on time.
• In-person payment at a DWP payment center or authorized retailer avoids online and phone systems but requires a trip during business hours.
• Automatic payments from your bank account can be set up online and remove the need to remember the due date each month.

Paying online through your DWP account

Go to dwp.com and click "Pay My Bill" at the top of the page. You will need your account number (on your bill) and the amount you want to pay. If you do not have a DWP online account yet, you can create one during this step using your email address and a password you choose. DWP will ask for your service address to confirm your identity.

Once you log in, your current bill and payment history appear on the screen. Select the bill you want to pay, enter the amount, and choose your payment method: debit card, credit card, or bank account. Debit and credit card payments process when ready and show a confirmation number on screen. Bank account payments (ACH) take one to two business days and are free, while card payments charge a fee of about 2.5 percent of the amount paid.

Keep your confirmation number for your records. DWP sends a receipt to your email address within a few hours. If you do not receive it, log back into your account and check the payment history tab — it will show whether the payment went through.

Paying by phone

Call DWP's automated payment line at 1-800-342-5397. You do not need to speak to a person unless something goes wrong. The system will ask for your account number or service address, then the amount you want to pay. You can pay with a debit card, credit card, or bank account. The call takes about ten minutes from start to finish.

Have your bill or account number ready, but the system can look up your account using your service address if you do not have it. At the end of the call, the system gives you a confirmation number — write it down. DWP sends a receipt to the phone number or email on file, though this can take a few hours.

If you reach a live representative instead of the automated system, they can process the same payment but may charge a higher fee or require additional information. Calling during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time) reaches a person faster if you need help.

Paying by mail

Write a check or money order for the amount due and include it with your bill stub. The stub has your account number printed on it, which helps DWP match your payment to your account. Mail it to the address printed on your bill — this address changes based on which part of the service area you live in, so do not use an old bill's address.

Mail payments take seven to ten business days to reach DWP after you send them, so post your payment at least ten business days before the due date. If your payment arrives after the due date, DWP will add a late charge to your next bill even if the delay was caused by mail delivery. Do not send cash through the mail.

Keep a copy of your check number or money order receipt for your records. DWP does not send a separate receipt for mail payments, but your payment will appear in your online account history about two weeks after it arrives.

In-person payment at DWP locations and authorized retailers

DWP has payment centers in Los Angeles where you can pay in person during business hours. The main office is at 111 North Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Pacific time. You can pay with cash, check, debit card, or credit card. Bring your bill or account number so staff can process the payment quickly.

DWP also partners with authorized retailers — mostly grocery stores and convenience stores in the Los Angeles area — where you can pay your bill. These locations accept cash and debit cards but usually not credit cards. Check dwp.com for a list of retailers near you, as the list changes. Payment at a retailer appears in your account within one to three business days.

Setting up automatic payments

Automatic payments remove the need to remember your due date each month. Log into your DWP account online, go to "Billing & Payments," and select "Autopay." You can choose to pay the full amount due each month or a fixed amount you set yourself. Payments come from your bank account on a date you choose, usually five to ten days before the due date.

You can change or cancel automatic payments anytime through your online account. If you cancel, you return to manual payment — DWP will not charge you to stop autopay. Automatic payments from a bank account are free, with no card processing fees.

What to do if your payment does not show up

Online and phone payments usually appear in your account within one to two business days. If more than two business days have passed and you do not see your payment in your account history, log in and check the confirmation number from your receipt. The confirmation number tells you whether DWP received the payment or whether it failed.

Mail and in-person payments take longer — up to two weeks — to appear online. If you are worried your payment arrived late, call DWP at 1-800-342-5397 and give them your confirmation number or check number. They can tell you the exact date your payment was received and whether a late charge will be added.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does DWP charge a fee to pay my bill?

No fee for bank account payments (ACH) online or by phone. Credit and debit card payments charge about 2.5 percent of the amount paid. Mail and in-person payments have no fee. The fee is added to your payment, so if you pay $100 by card, DWP receives $97.50 and the processor keeps $2.50.

Can I pay someone else's DWP bill?

Yes, if you have their account number or service address. Online and phone payments do not require you to be the account holder. If you pay in person or by mail, include the account number on the check or tell the cashier the account number so the payment reaches the correct account.

What happens if I pay after the due date?

DWP adds a late charge to your next bill. The charge is a percentage of the amount owed, and the exact percentage is printed on your bill. Paying late does not disconnect your service when ready, but repeated late payments can lead to a notice of disconnection after 30 days.

Can I set up a payment plan if I cannot pay the full amount?

Yes, but that is a separate process from paying your bill. DWP offers extended payment plans and bill reduction programs for customers with low income or hardship. Contact DWP directly at 1-800-342-5397 to ask about these programs — they are not part of the standard payment methods.

Is my payment information safe when I pay online?

DWP uses encryption to protect your payment information online. Your debit card, credit card, or bank account details are not stored in your account after the payment completes. If you are unsure about online security, you can always pay by phone, mail, or in person instead.