ENERGY

Edison Tightens Policies as Senior Manager Resigns : Manager of information services Geoffrey R. Bales, who has been questioned for his outside business relationship with an Edison consultant, was asked to resign by Edison executives. Bales, as head of Edison research, had approved 10 contracts worth millions of dollars with Salt Lake City consultant R. Quinn Gardner. At the same time, he was a partner with Gardner in a Salt Lake travel agency. The relationship came to light during investigation of expenses and time-card billings under those and other Gardner-affiliated contracts with the utility. Edison also announced that it will increase audits and otherwise tighten its safeguards against conflicts of interest in future deals with consultants.