LADWP Relocates Unified Utilities Rebuild Operations Center to Topanga Canyon Boulevard

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has relocated its Unified Utilities Rebuild Operations Center from Palisades Recreation Center to Topanga Canyon Boulevard, effective Monday, June 23.

Now operating at 3931 South Topanga Canyon Boulevard (where Malibu Feed Bin was located), the UUROC’s current hours will be Monday through Sunday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

“Recovery doesn’t follow a set timeline, and we understand that our customers are still navigating a long road ahead,” LADWP Chief Executive Officer and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones said. “This relocation ensures uninterrupted access to the resources and support our customers who have been impacted by the January wildfires rely on—and reaffirms our commitment to staying accessible every step of the way.”

The UUROC, which originally opened in the small gym at the rec center on Saturday, March 1, has served over 250 customers, according to LADWP.

From its new location, the UUROC will “continue to offer direct access to LADWP services to those affected by the Palisades fire,” with LADWP representatives on site to discuss “immediate and future needs” with customers, including “starting and stopping water and power service; account inquiries; electric service repair or replacement; electric meter spots; electrical panel replacement; and electrical panel upgrades.”

Representatives can also discuss entire build plans (“site and/or architectural plans,” “electrical load schedule” or “electrical single line diagram”) with customers, or their contractors or designees, according to LADWP.

“From the beginning, our goal has been to meet people where they are, and we did that by bringing the services to them,” LADWP UUROC’s Incident Commander John Vanacore said. “Our customers’ recovery is not just a priority for us but a responsibility we share as part of this community.”

Since the Palisades fire in January, LADWP has set over 1,675 power poles, installed more than 300,000 feet of conductor, and installed “several underground substructures and over 2,300 feet of underground conduit,” the agency reported.

“Last week, LADWP performed additional water distribution system flushing in the affected areas to ensure that water quality continues to meet and/or exceed all state and federal drinking water standards,” according to a statement.

Rebuilding work continues across Pacific Palisades with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—which is leading the government-run debris removal program—reporting that 3,682 sites had been cleared in the Palisades fire area as of June 24, according to Charles Delano with the USACE Public Affairs Office. There have been 3,430 sites that have received final sign off and given back to the county.

USACE has received 4,004 eligible rights of entry from the county as of June 24. There are 322 parcels remaining to be cleared by USACE. There are 31 debris crews working in the Palisades fire area, with a five-day average of 10 sites cleared.

As of Monday, June 23, 124 permits for 95 unique addresses have been issued related to rebuilding efforts in the Palisades, according to Mayor Karen Bass’ office. The number of non-responsive parcels, who have not opted in or out of the government-run debris removal program, was 15 as of June 24, according to the office of the LA city attorney.

“On May 19, the LA Department of Building and Safety began contacting residential property owners who either didn’t respond to or opted out of the Army Corps’ debris removal program and for whom debris removal hadn’t been verified,” according to the mayor’s office. “These owners must clear debris within 30 days of their notice’s effective date, unless granted an extension by the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners.”

Properties that do not meet the deadline, without an extension, will be referred to FEMA beginning June 30.

“While commercial properties aren’t part of the federal debris removal program,” read the statement from the mayor’s office, “the city has applied to FEMA for special inclusion of certain sites.”