DWP PULLS PLUG ON CHATSWORTH AS RESIDENTS SWELTER

Apparently, DWP's lack of maintenance at the Chatsworth Nature Preserve is part of DWP's ambivalence towards Chatsworth residents as residents west of Topanga and South of Lassen lost power for over 6 hours on Tuesday, September 3.  The power went out around 5 O'clock as residents sweltered in 100 degree heat for hours without any explanation or apologies by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.  Calls were not returned from angry users and no one from the DWP came by the darkened neighborhood to tell us what went awry.  Instead, we were given automated answers stating the power would be off until the next day, September 4.  Meanwhile Chatsworth residents were stuck with no air conditioning, no lights, and no police presence as the repairs were being done.  Our community was frozen out as our closed gates could not be overridden due to the lack of power.  This meant we could not escape the confines of our community to get food or drink.  Street lights, which appeared to be on the same grid as residential service were also out, without any battery back up for the low power LED lights.  Temperatures continued to be oppressive, coupled with high humidity as night fell, but not one word from a human working at the DWP.  Cars began touring the neighborhoods as we became sort of a reverse 'Candy Cane Lane,' except the homes were not lit, with exception for some solar outdoor lighting.
DWP promised follow up calls, but none came.  No DWP reps or customer service types were available to let us know when the shadow of darkness would be eclipsed.  We were all left to swelter in out homes as interior temps exceeded 87 degrees, while all we could muster were the sundowners for some wind aided relief.  It would seem when hundreds are left in the dark by DWP that someone from the city would have come by and offered some type of releif or solace, and maybe some information.  We received no updates as residents scurried around the neighborhood with their LED flashlights.  A few had motor homes where they could escape the heat.  Meanwhile, there was nothing from our city officials, not even a visit from our city councilman.  The point here is that the DWP was oblivious to our needs on one of the hottest days of the year.  No one came by with cold water, nor was there any outburst of caring by the DWP.  We were left in the dark until about 10 PM when the lights went on and we tried to exhaust the oppressive heat from our homes.  It is quite clear that while DWP ignores their obligations to the Chatsworth Preserve, they also ignore their customers, who will be receiving rather large energy bills in October without an apology by the Los Angeles DWP, who pulled the plug on Chatsworth residents on 9-3-2013, while they short circuited their claims of customer service.