Air-Conditioning, Power for LAUSD

In “To LAUSD: Don’t Take the Utilities’ Bait” (Commentary, June 10) Benjamin M. Reznik and Daniel W. Douglass attempt to characterize the potential air-conditioning agreement between the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Energy Alliance as one between a naive, dull-witted entity and a wolf ready to pounce. They couldn’t be more wrong.

LAUSD is doing its homework before engaging in this agreement. And LAUSD realizes that the Energy Alliance, which is composed of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Pacific Enterprises and Enova Corp., is not a “start-up” power marketer; it is an entity that will be around for the long term.

Apparently, Reznik and Douglass were not aware that the DWP expedited the installation of air-conditioning systems in over 100 LAUSD campuses in 1992-93 to accommodate year-round schools. They probably didn’t hear how, following the 1995 Northridge earthquake, the DWP dispatched crews of structural engineers to LAUSD schools to quickly assess which facilities could be safely reoccupied and which needed repair. It’s obvious that Reznik and Douglass have not heard of the Youth Service Academy, Adopt-a-School, the National Science Bowl, In Concert with the Environment and several other programs the DWP has sponsored for many years and continues to support for the students of LAUSD.

LAUSD is equipped to make its own evaluation. It should not be portrayed as unqualified in its decision-making capability, nor should the DWP be unfairly depicted as attempting to swindle an entity which it respects and supports.

FRANK SALAS

Manager of Government,

Legislative and Regulatory Affairs

DWP