April 10, 2008
LADWP is Named Government Agency of the Year
City Utility Deemed Most Responsive in
Promoting African American Economic Development
Los Angeles – The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on March 20 was lauded with the Government Agency of the Year Award by the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce (GLAACC) at its 15th Annual Economic Awards held at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
“This year’s dinner theme, ‘Building Economic and Political Coalitions,” highlights the importance of business and political relationships from the small business person to those in Fortune 500 corporations,” said GLAAACC President Angela Gibson.
GLAAAC’s goal is to increase African American participation in the multi-billion dollar Los Angeles County business arena. The Government Agency of the Year award is presented to the public sector entity that has been most responsive in promoting African American economic development.
“LADWP is committed to awarding contracts to minority, women-owned, and small business enterprises. LADWP strives to meet an annual goal of awarding 15 percent of contractual expenditures to minority owned businesses and seven percent to women-owned businesses,” said David Nahai, LADWP chief executive officer and general manager.
The GLAAACC recognition comes on the heels of the 2008 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study, which ranked the LADWP second in the Western United States and ahead of 51 out of the 58 largest electric utilities across the nation. The J.D. Power and Associates study reflects the opinions of representatives of more than 13,500 businesses that spend between $500 and $50,000 each month on electricity.
The six factors that JD Powers and Associates used to measure overall customer satisfaction included power quality and reliability, customer service, company image, billing and payment, price and communications.
Among the other GLAAACC honorees were Congresswomen Laura Richardson; Judy Chu, Vice Chair, State Board of Equalization; Commissioner Timothy A. Simon, California Public Utilities Commission; and Natalie Cole, CEO and Publisher of Our Weekly and Commissioner for the CRA Commission.
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The Los Angeles Department of was established more than a century ago to provide a reliable water supply to the city’s businesses and residents. The LADWP serves approximately 1.4 million electric customers and 680,000 water service customers. For more information about LADWP’s programs for economic development, visit www.ladwp.com
