Valadez served PUB amid theft of service charges

Former Brownsville Public Utilities Board member Cristobal M. Valadez Jr., said Monday he didn’t know PUB officials had filed a police report in June alleging theft of service at his home.

“I don’t know anything about that. I haven’t seen any report,” Valadez said Monday as he prepared to receive special recognition for his service to the board at today’s PUB meeting.

Valadez recalls paying a bill for $2,000 around that time but attributed it to being “under charged” on previous bills.

Brownsville police spoke to Valadez’s wife, Melissa, about the problem and noted she said she would “take care of it later.”

PUB did not press charges, according to the police report which shows a meter reader with the utility complained when he discovered the electric meter had been disabled.

“In order for the case to be investigated the victim (PUB) needs to file charges,” which has not been done, police spokesman Eddie Garcia said Monday.

Valadez, a county employee, served the remainder of his four-year term, which expired this month, but was not nominated for another term. Former commissioner Dr. Joseph A. Zavaletta, who now serves on the board, originally nominated him in 2003.

Lucy Hernandez, PUB spokeswoman, said charges were not filed because Valadez paid restitution to the utility and “that’s the way we handle all cases” of meter tampering.

Hernandez said PUB investigates all suspected meter tampering and allows the homeowner or business owner to pay restitution.

The damaged meter is removed and the electrical services are disconnected until PUB has been compensated.

The individual or business must also pay reconnection and tampering services plus fees for the installation of a new tamper-proof meter, Hernandez said. These fees amount to $335.

According to the police report, the electric meter at Valadez’s residence on Pasadero Street had been cracked and rigged with tape and wire.

“A wire had been placed inside the electric meter so that it would not function properly,” the report states. “The electric meter had been stopped with the wire which was taped down and no longer ran, which indicated to PUB that no electricity was being used at the location.”

The PUB meter reader said electricity was being used at the home.

The damaged meter at Valadez’s home was removed and a new was one was installed.

Today’s PUB meeting was canceled Monday afternoon because Mayor Pat M. Ahumada is unable to attend. Ahumada traveled to Kilgore, Texas, Sunday for his foster father’s funeral.