Pasadena : Utility Management Offer

The Ralph M. Parsons Co. is putting together a proposal to manage Pasadena’s Water and Power Department, city officials said. The Pasadena-based engineering firm, which operates several municipal waste water services across the country and an electric utility in Saudi Arabia, has queried the city about providing similar services here.

Deputy City Manager Edward Aghjayan said that Parsons will submit its proposal within 30 days. “We’re just kind of curious as to what they’re going to come back with,” Aghjayan said. “The utility is quite profitable, it has low rates. So there isn’t any driving purpose beyond this.”

According to Aghjayan, the Water and Power Department generates yearly revenues of about $70 million. Of that figure, about $10 million is profit, Aghjayan said. “It’s more like (the Board of City Directors) is saying ‘OK, just what is it that you think you can do for us,’ ” Aghjayan said.