Utility employee caught insulting customer on video

A Johnson Utilities worker recently told an Arizona customer he was “piss poor” and lived in a “jungle,” according to video the customer captured.

Justin Corvelo of San Tan Valley said he called the water company to discuss damage to a curb in front of his house, which he believes the utility caused when digging to uncover and mark a neighbor’s water meter.

The curb showed a minor crack and chip.

When Bob Hegedus, Johnson Utilities inspector, arrived to talk to Corvelo about the issue, Hegedus got angry and said the damage was too small to warrant attention.

“I tell you what, you people out here in this jungle are really piss-poor people,” he said to Corvelo in the exchange caught on video. “Don’t come at me. I’m telling you that right now.”

Corvelo asked the worker, identified on his business card as an inspector, why he was getting so angry.

“I’ve had plenty of dealings with this damn street,” Hegedus said.

Hegedus disputed whether he and his partner could have damaged the curb while shoveling nearby and painting, and whether the curb even was on Corvelo’s property.

Corvelo said he has spent $10,000 on landscaping to make his home look nice and just wants Johnson Utilities to fix the minor curb damage because it affects the look of his home.

Johnson Utilities has not responded to him and did not return a call from The Arizona Republic.

“I’ve been getting the runaround and leaving messages,” Corvelo said. “It seems anyone who has the authority to make a decision is not available to take my phone calls.”

After a criminal indictment for bribery involving the company, Johnson Utilities has been forced into a rate review by state regulators, and the owner, George Johnson, has stepped away from company operations, according to a document he filed with regulators.

Johnson is accused of passing bribes to former utility regulator Gary Pierce by paying Pierce’s wife, Sherry, for trivial tasks. Lobbyist Jim Norton also was indicted.

The five-member Corporation Commission intended to hire a firm to audit the utility, but in August voted to require the company to submit a rate proposal by Dec. 31 that would give the regulators the opportunity to take a deep dive into its finances and operations.

A spokeswoman for the commission said the commissioners are hesitant to discuss the company so as not to appear to have prejudged that pending rate case. She said the commission has no authority over property damage like that suggested by Corvelo.