Since it was created more than 100 years ago, the Department of Water and Power has been a titan of Los Angeles, controlling not just the city's access to vital resources but billions of dollars in revenue that has helped gain influence at City Hall.
But as leaders of the nation's largest municipal utility embark on a new push for rate increases, they face an unprecedented level of public scrutiny. And that is going to require a substantial public outreach as it seeks to significantly increase water and power bills.
The agency is facing a skeptical city after a series of embarrassing events.