The head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) apologized Monday, Oct. 12, for delays that have kept Palisades Fire victims from returning to rebuilt homes.

Interim General Manager Dave Hanson told ABC7's "7 On Your Side" that some of what displaced residents described to him was "pretty disturbing." He acknowledged the utility had been sending inspectors from the San Fernando Valley instead of staffing them locally.

"These people lost everything that they own … they just want to go home," Hanson said.

The January 2025 fire destroyed more than 7,000 structures. Twenty-one months later, residents who were among the first to rebuild say LADWP's permitting, inspections and power restoration have stalled their progress.

Rebecca Baron told ABC7 she rebuilt her entire home on a generator because LADWP never provided temporary power. An open trench dug for power lines sat on her property for nearly the full length of construction.

The problems extend beyond single-family homes. At the Villa De La Paz condominiums at Via De La Paz and Sunset Boulevard, 66 of 107 units burned. A power line LADWP installed to restore service was relocated closer to the building's foundation, blocking rebuild permits, ABC7 first reported Oct. 9.

LADWP quoted the homeowners association $50,000 to $60,000 to fix what resident Chad Comey called "their mistake." Comey's family has owned a unit since 1974. His parents live in temporary housing that does not meet their accessibility needs. His mother has a rare autoimmune disorder that has left her paralyzed and partially blind. His father is also blind.

LADWP has since proposed an overhead-line solution the HOA accepted, according to ABC7.

HOA president David Greifinger said the complex was "an island of affordable housing in the Palisades" and that owners are already losing units to foreclosure or forced sales.

Hanson said LADWP hired five or six additional inspectors for the Palisades and set up a "forward operating base" at its Marquez location with a single commander overseeing all operations. The utility also launched a customer portal to help rebuilding residents navigate its requirements.

LADWP's goal is to bring underground power to the Palisades by 2031. No accountability hearing or formal deadline for resolving outstanding cases has been announced.