Discussion: House Energy Cmte. Wants Info On Whitefish's Contract In Puerto Rico

1 Like

Could Greg Walden, the committee chair, be an actual public servant? Or does this just smell too much even for Republicans?

2 Likes

House leadership let someone from OREGON!? chair a committee?

Well, I doubt they’ll make that kind of mistake again…

1 Like

Can we all chip in to purchase Chairman Walden a Prime membership here? I’m good for a nickel.

2 Likes

$319.04/hr for a lineman. I recall reading the linemen in Florida were getting $50, $75 for OT and $100/hr for Sundays. I know the conditions in PR are rougher, but a greater than 6x pay bump? Wow.

3 Likes

Go ask Richard Spencer’s mom, the nazi and his mommy are from Whitefish.

House energy committee or democrats on the house energy committee wants info. on the $300 MILLION dollars windfall from Trump’s cronies?

WhiteGuy Utilities has apparently cornered the market on AA batteries.

Problemo solved…

2 Likes

And Trump, Sinclair Propaganda and Alex Jones Infowars were all falsely blaming the PR Teamsters for trying to extort/gouge the public on hauling relief supplies.

3 Likes

‘We just kinda called each other’??? WTF?

2 Likes

Well ya but, the PR Teamsters are like some sort of foreign Americans, it’s implied that you can get them cheap. /Trump

The linemen on the way to Florida seemed ecstatic with the pay there, and the prospect of earning maybe $30k in a few weeks. The workers in PR are getting $5k a day, $30-35k a week, even if they don’t get an overtime bump, plus room and board. If the rebuilding takes a year they’re going to be going home millionaires.

3 Likes

Remember that the actual workers aren’t getting anything like that. That’s just what the company is charging. Figure 2x for just the usual management stuff, insurance, workers comp blah blah. Take that up to 3x because there’s not really a working base infrastructure to support the repair.

The rest? That would be profit.

2 Likes

“We understand Whitefish is focused on the critical task of restoring power for the population of Puerto Rico,” the committee said in a letter to Whitefish Energy. “In light of the questions that have been raised about your company’s involvement in recovery efforts, however, it is important to develop a clear understanding of the facts.”

Companies which can successfully manage a $300 million project can also simultaneously answer questions from a House Subcommittee.

Just sayin’.

5 Likes

Whitefish was paying its subcontractors large sums for their work on the island — $462 per hour for a supervisor and $319.04 for a lineman

According to WaPo “Under the contract, the hourly rate was set at $330 for a site supervisor, and at $227.88 for a 'journeyman lineman,” which means the subs are charging Whitefish a 40% overhead fee. I wonder if Whitefish gets a portion of that overhead fee or if they charge their a fee on top of that. Either way it’s a hell of an ROI on their $100,000 investment in DT Grift & Scam, LLC.

1 Like

From the article (emphasis added):

The Washington Post reported on Oct. 23 that Whitefish was paying its subcontractors large sums for their work on the island — $462 per hour for a supervisor and $319.04 for a lineman — in addition to accommodation and lodging fees.

If subcontractors are individuals then they are making out like bandits. If the subcontractors are companies which subcontract to individuals then the company subcontractors are making out like bandits, like you said.

If the later (most likely arrangement for a 2 person company) then it’d be interesting to know who owns the subcontracting companies.

4 Likes

“including the committee’s chair and ranking member”

Yeah…“I can’t help you cover up this type of shit very well if you don’t bring me into the fold, dumbass. You should’ve let me know ahead of time.”

1 Like

OK, one of the early articles here seemed to suggest that that was what they were billing at rather than what they were paying. If they’re actually paying that, they’re going to be billing 1.5-2x if the usual body shop rates hold.

If that’s what they’re billing, $300M would cover all of 750 workers for six months. If that’s what they’re paying, 2/3 to half that. And that’s before supplies or equipment.

2 Likes

Yeah, it’s unclear. I was envisioning the linemen acting as subs and being 1099’d individually. You’re probably right, though.

They seem to have plenty of time to shoot and edit little videos to tweet.

1 Like

To be effective, looting has to be carried out at full-tilt speed.

1 Like