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# Ratepayer Advocate Swamped
April 09 2012
Written by Rick Orlov.
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PROGRESS REPORT - When he took the job as ratepayer advocate for the Department of Water and Power, Fred Pickel knew he would be busy. But not this busy and not this soon.
Pickel last week was told to prepare to analyze the latest increases being suggested by DWP management, 10.5 percent for power over two years and 5 percent for water.
"I don't even have my assistant hired yet, and forget about the other staff we need," Pickel said. "And they are asking for an expedited review at a time when the office is new.
"If I'm lucky, I'll have my executive assistant by May 1 and then we will begin professional searches for staff."
In the meantime, he said he might have to rely on the private firm PA Consulting, which has analyzed DWP rate proposals for the City Council in the past, to help with the staff work.
DWP General Manager Ron Nichols has been trying to get rate increases through for the past year and was forced to put them on hold until Pickel was hired this year. (More Rick Orlov [here](http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20354111/ratepayer-advocate-swamped-work?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com))
*(Rick Orlov covers City Hall for the dailynews.com. where this column first appeared. His Tipoff column appears Mondays. For a daily political fix, go to the Sausage Factory at [insidesocal.com/politics](http://insidesocal.com/politics). You can contact him at rick.orlov@dailynews.com )* –cw
Tags: Ratepayer Advocate, City Hall, DWP, Ron Nichols, Fred Pickel
CityWatch
Vol 10 Issue 29
Pub: Apr 10, 2012
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