How to Pay Your DWP Los Angeles Water Bill Online

Paying your DWP bill through their online bill pay system

The Department of Water and Power (DWP) in Los Angeles lets you pay your water and power bill directly through their website or mobile app without setting up a separate bill pay service through your bank. You log into your DWP account, enter the amount you want to pay, and choose your payment method — debit card, credit card, or bank account transfer. The payment posts to your account within one to two business days, though the DWP website will show your payment as received when ready after you submit it.

This is the most direct route because you are paying DWP straight through their own system rather than routing the payment through a third party. You do not need to know your account number to start — you can look it up by your service address or phone number. If you set up an online account with DWP, you can also see your bill history, set up automatic payments, and get alerts when your bill is ready.

Key Takeaways

• You can pay your DWP bill on their website at ladwp.com or through the DWP mobile app by logging into your account and selecting the payment option.
• DWP accepts debit cards, credit cards, and bank account transfers, though credit card payments may include a processing fee.
• Payments made online show as received when ready but take one to two business days to post to your account.
• Setting up automatic payments through DWP means your bill is paid on the same date each month without you having to log in.
• If you do not have an online account yet, you can create one using your service address, phone number, or account number.

Setting up your DWP online account

Before you can pay through DWP's website or app, you need to create an account. Go to ladwp.com and click "Create Account" or "Sign Up." You will need your service address, phone number, or DWP account number. The system will ask you to verify your identity — usually by answering security questions or confirming information from your account history.

Once your account is set up, you can add a payment method and save it for future use. DWP will ask whether you want to receive bills by email or mail. Email delivery is faster and means you get notified as soon as your bill is ready to view. After your account is active, you can log in anytime to see your current balance, past bills, and usage history.

Payment methods DWP accepts

DWP takes debit cards, credit cards, and electronic bank transfers. If you pay with a debit card or bank account, there is no fee. If you pay with a credit card, DWP charges a processing fee — the amount varies depending on the card type and the payment processor DWP uses at the time you pay. The fee is shown to you before you confirm the payment, so you can see the total cost before you commit.

Bank account transfers are the cheapest option if you want to avoid fees. You provide your routing number and account number, and the payment is drawn from your checking or savings account. This method takes the same one to two business days as other payment types.

Setting up automatic payments

If you want your DWP bill paid the same way every month without logging in, you can set up automatic payments through your account. Log in, go to the payment or billing section, and look for "Autopay" or "Automatic Payment." You choose the payment method (debit card, credit card, or bank account), the date you want it paid each month, and whether you want to pay the full bill or a fixed amount.

Automatic payments stop you from missing a due date and avoid late fees. You can change or cancel the automatic payment anytime through your account. If your bill amount changes significantly, you can adjust the payment amount or turn off autopay for that month and pay manually instead.

Paying by phone or mail if you do not use online bill pay

If you do not want to pay online, DWP also accepts payments by phone. Call the DWP customer service line at 1-800-342-5397 and a representative can process your payment over the phone using a debit card or bank account. Phone payments are available during business hours and take the same processing time as online payments.

You can also mail a check or money order to the address on your bill. Write your account number on the check and mail it to the address listed in the "Pay Your Bill" section of your statement. Mailed payments take longer to process — typically five to seven business days from the time DWP receives it — so mail your payment early if your due date is coming up soon.

What to do if your payment does not post

After you submit a payment online, DWP shows it as received when ready, but it takes one to two business days to post to your account and reduce your balance. If more than two business days have passed and your payment still does not show as posted, log back into your account and look for the payment in your transaction history. The status should say "Posted" or "Completed."

If the payment shows as submitted but not posted after three business days, or if you cannot find the transaction in your history, contact DWP customer service at 1-800-342-5397. Have your account number and the payment date and amount ready. A representative can look up the payment and tell you whether it is still processing or if there was an issue.

Late fees and what happens if you miss a due date

DWP charges a late fee if your payment does not arrive by the due date shown on your bill. The late fee is a percentage of your bill amount — the exact percentage is listed on your statement. If you are going to miss the due date, paying as soon as you can will stop additional late fees from building up, even if you are paying after the important date.

If you fall significantly behind on your bill, DWP may shut off your water or power service. The company typically sends notices before a shutoff happens, so if you receive a shutoff notice, contact DWP right away to discuss a payment plan or other options. Some customers may be able to set up a payment arrangement that lets them pay the balance over time instead of all at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay my DWP bill through my bank's bill pay system?

Yes. If your bank offers bill pay, you can set it up to send a check to DWP at the address on your bill. This works, but it is slower than paying directly through DWP's website because the check has to arrive and be processed. Paying directly through ladwp.com or the DWP app is faster and shows as received when ready.

Is there a fee to pay my DWP bill online?

There is no fee if you pay with a debit card or bank account transfer. Credit card payments include a processing fee that varies by card type. The fee is shown before you confirm the payment, so you know the total cost upfront.

What time of day does DWP process online payments?

DWP processes online payments 24 hours a day. Your payment shows as received when ready after you submit it, but it takes one to two business days to post to your account. Payments submitted on weekends or holidays are processed the next business day.

Can I change my automatic payment date if my due date changes?

Yes. Log into your DWP account, go to the autopay section, and update the payment date. The change takes effect on your next scheduled payment. If you need to skip a payment or pay a different amount that month, you can turn off autopay temporarily and pay manually.

What should I do if I think DWP charged me twice?

Check your account transaction history to confirm whether there are two separate payments or if one payment appears twice by mistake. Contact DWP customer service at 1-800-342-5397 with the payment dates and amounts. A representative can review your account and process a refund if a duplicate charge occurred.