PRC employees report ethics lapses

Posted at: 11/17/2009 7:06 PM
By: Gadi Schwartz, Eyewitness News 4; Matthew Kappus, KOB.com

Sandy Jones says the survey is a starting point for reforms at the PRC

The state's Public Regulation Commission is asking itself tough questions about ethics and getting some shocking answers.

A recent employee survey showed that a large majority of workers saw unethical behavior on the job.

At least two PRC commissioners face criminal charges. Those issues at the commission's highest level prompted a survey of employees asking what they see on the job.

The PRC is responsible for regulating a variety of industries—from gas and electric to water utilities. It has a direct impact on setting rates for many of the bills New Mexicans pay.

But about 50 percent of PRC employees said in a survey that they have been asked to do something unethical by a supervisor. And 85 percent reported seeing ethics violations in the past year.

One employee used the survey to express concerns about favoritism and sexual harassment.

The chairman of the PRC says despite the concerns, the surveys are a starting point to things turning around.

"Enough is enough and it's time to go to work and we want to be on the front end of that. We don't want to be on the tail end," said PRC chairman Sandy Jones.

The chairman says they are working on putting together a better way to train employees and commissioners on their code of ethics.

The PRC blacked out many comments on the questionnaires before they were inspected by us. We are told that is because they dealt with personnel issues. But the PRC says some of those comments may lead to investigations.

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