The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) is the nation’s largest municipally owned utility. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers represents thousands of their employees. Consumer groups and members of the city council have been attempting since 2008 to put in place a “watchdog” to hold the utility more accountable to the public it serves. The debate has reared up again as the council is attempting to put a ballot measure on a March ballot to institute the watchdog. According to the Los Angeles Times, the debate comes two weeks after two DWP employees were arrested on suspicion of defrauding the utility by making at least $3 million in inflated purchases from “dummy” companies. And it comes six months after two television news stations aired video that appeared to show DWP workers visiting strip clubs while on the job. IBEW is of course fighting the measure. Local 18 Leader Brian D’Arcy states: “While reform is needed, this proposal has had too little deliberation and too little public input.” But according to LA Councilwoman Jan Perry, “Clearly we have a problem internally, and we need to respond.”
