Los Angeles, CA (June 8, 2026) – The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), alongside Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and officials of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power called on commercial, industrial and institutional customers to sign up for LADWP’s Commercial Direct Install (CDI) Program, which provides no-cost energy efficiency upgrades to eligible businesses and multifamily properties throughout Los Angeles.
At a news conference at the Second Baptist Church at 2412 Griffith Ave, the Mayor showcased how the CDI Program helps reduce operating costs, improves energy efficiency, and supports Los Angeles’ clean energy and sustainability goals. Through their participation in CDI, the Second Baptist Church and its Children’s Ministry Building had energy inefficient lighting replaced with modern, high-efficiency LED fixtures that will yield $1,769 in annual bill savings through the conservation of 11,061 kWh of electricity.
The CDI Program is one of LADWP’s key customer-focused energy efficiency initiatives designed to help eligible non-residential customers lower energy consumption through no-cost equipment upgrades and installation services. The program serves qualifying commercial electric customers with an average monthly electrical demand of 250 kilowatts or less, as well as eligible multifamily properties with five or more units. Through the CDI Program, customers may receive energy-saving improvements including LED lighting, refrigeration controls and upgrades, electronically commutated motors (ECMs), anti-sweat heater controls, automatic door closers, heat pump water heaters, and other energy-efficient technologies tailored to facility needs.
The Commercial Direct Install Program was originally launched by LADWP in 2008 under the name Small Business Direct Install Program (SBDI). At its launch, the program targeted customers with a monthly demand of 30 kW or less. In 2016, the program was renamed Commercial Direct Install and expanded to serve both small and medium-sized businesses, increasing the eligibility threshold to 200 kW. In 2018, the threshold was further increased to 250 kW, and additional expansion occurred in 2019 to include direct installation services for schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District.
CDI is part of LADWP’s long-standing portfolio of customer-facing energy efficiency and sustainability programs designed to help businesses reduce energy use and lower operating costs across our communities. As the program continues to evolve with an expanded reach and a renewed focus on supporting small and medium-sized businesses through accessible, no-cost energy efficiency upgrades, CDI reflects LADWP’s ongoing commitment to delivering practical, cost-saving solutions. These
solutions improve energy performance, reduce demand on the electric grid, and advance the City’s broader sustainability and climate objectives.
Second Baptist Church’s participation in CDI served as a strong example of the program’s local impact and the benefits that energy efficiency investments can provide to community-serving organizations and facilities throughout Los Angeles.
“Improving energy efficiency is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen grid reliability, lower energy costs, and advance Los Angeles’ clean energy future,” said Mayor Bass. “Our Climate Action Plan calls for bold investments in sustainability, decarbonization, and environmental justice, and programs like LADWP’s Commercial Direct Install Program help turn those goals into meaningful action for our communities and the environment. By expanding access to no-cost energy efficiency upgrades, CDI helps businesses lower operating costs, reduce energy demand, improve air quality, and support healthier, more resilient neighborhoods across Los Angeles while building a cleaner and more sustainable future for all Angelenos.”
The CDI Program is administered in partnership with LADWP contractor Willdan Group and is designed to make energy-efficient technologies more accessible to businesses and multifamily properties that may not otherwise have the resources to invest in infrastructure improvements.
“Programs like the Commercial Direct Install Program demonstrate how LADWP can support businesses, strengthen communities, and advance Los Angeles’ long-term sustainability and climate goals at the same time,” said Interim LADWP General Manager David W. Hanson. “By removing financial barriers and providing no-cost energy efficiency upgrades, we are helping customers lower operating costs, modernize facilities, reduce emissions, and participate in Los Angeles’ transition to a cleaner and more resilient energy future. These efforts directly support Mayor Karen Bass’ Climate Action Plan by improving energy efficiency, reducing strain on the grid, and expanding equitable access to sustainability investments across our communities.”
Hanson continued, “The CDI Program is already delivering results for participating businesses through upgrades such as high-efficiency refrigeration systems, LED lighting, heat pump water heaters, and electronically commutated motors that can significantly reduce energy use and utility costs. Some refrigeration-related upgrades alone can reduce energy consumption by 20 to 40 percent while improving operational performance and reliability for local businesses.”
By lowering overall energy demand across LADWP’s service territory, the CDI Program supports citywide goals related to greenhouse gas emissions reduction, building decarbonization, grid reliability, and equitable access to clean energy programs. The press event also underscored the importance of collaboration between LADWP, the Mayor’s Office, community organizations, and local businesses in building a more resilient and sustainable future for Los Angeles.
Businesses and multifamily property owners interested in participating in LADWP’s Commercial Direct Install Program can visit LADWP.com/CDI to learn more and enroll in the program.
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