My view:
DWP's infrastructure appears to be in terrible shape with maintenance of both overhead and underground circuits deferred for years. If nothing else, their underground lead circuits are aging and and will fail at an ever increasing rate until the whole system melts down if conductor replacement isn't maintained or even accelerated. The overhead is ratty and ready to come down and much of the underground is an unbelievable rat's nest example of construction.
To fix it takes tons of capital, which the utility has been forking over to clueless city government hacks who's knowledge of electrical systems are very hazy beyond the certainty that electricity comes out of the wall.
I believe they would practically have to give the Electrical utility portion away in order for an investor owned utility - such as SCE - to take over.
As far as the stink raised over the guys who were busted going to strip joints and other egregious activities (snitched out to the media by a fired coworker who participated in the fun while employed by DWP) while negotiated raises went into effect: Everyone from Beutner at the top down to the very last hired employee could work for free and it would probably make a difference of less than one percent of the total operating budget.
On the other hand, I hear different stories concerning the general work habits of DWP field employees. I have no idea of what is the truth (I don't work with or around them), but it is my belief that for an investor owned utility to absorb government employees it would be difficult for both management and labor, and SCE has brought a lot of negative consequences on itself by attempting to radically modify its workforce almost overnight in the early 90's.
SCE management had the same ideas then as blustering LA newspaper columnists and ignorant LA city councilmen do now, that there are thousands of people who would line up for those jobs. Which may be true on the surface, but qualified employees aren't to be found at the end of a two week dog and pony show.
Continued below.
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Last edited by ilbegone; 06-16-2010 at 09:49 PM.
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