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CRT Report: BWL culture, recordkeeping, technology must change

Joe Linstroth/WKAR

It’s become clearer how Lansing’s publicly-owned utility, the Board of Water and Light, failed its customers following last December’s ice storm. A detailed review by an investigative panel explores the utility’s actions before, during and after the storm that knocked out power to some 35,000 customers.It details faulty policies, a lack of sound policies and failures to execute. Chairman General Michael McDaniel calls the utility’s lack of record-keeping “mind boggling.”

It broadly addresses BWL senior leadership, but it leaves the fate of BWL General Manager Peter Lark to city officials and the BWL board to determine.

Current State speaks with General McDaniel and Darnell Earley, a member of the CRT for the past four months, a Lansing resident, the current Emergency Financial Manager for the city of Flint and former city manager of Saginaw.

Earley says he is confident that the CRT's report lays out a good blueprint for reform.

Kevin Lavery served as a general assignment reporter and occasional local host for Morning Edition and All Things Considered before retiring in 2023.
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