R Quinn Gardner

As much as $11.4 million in Southern California Edison ratepayers' money has been misspent or fraudulently billed by an outside consultant with little or no experience in the utility industry, the company acknowledged Tuesday.

As much as $11.4 million in Southern California Edison ratepayers' money has been misspent or fraudulently billed by an outside consultant with little or no experience in the utility industry, the company acknowledged Tuesday.

Edison Executive Had Authority to OK Contracts: Contrary to a previous statement from Southern California Edison, company executive Geoffrey R. Bales had the authority to approve contracts between Edison's research department and a Salt Lake City consultant who is his business partner. SoCal spokesman Lewis M. Phelps said when Bales was manager of research he was authorized to approve contracts up to $500,000.

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.

In a surprise turn Thursday, it was reported that a Salt Lake City consultant under investigation for $11.4 million in potentially questionable billings to Southern California Edison was linked financially to an Edison executive for the past two years. Geoffrey R. Bales, Edison manager of information services, is listed in Utah state records as a partner with the consultant, R. Quinn Gardner, in a Salt Lake travel agency.