Con Edison is forking over millions of dollars every year to companies that pay their workers to literally stand around — with traffic cones to block motorists from parking in the utility company’s work zones, according to a report published Monday.
More than $3.1 million went to companies just to baby sit parking spots at Con Ed construction sites between January 2012 and last July, DNAInfo reported.
Most of the money went to Bronx-based No Parking Today, Inc., which pays “parking assistants” between $9 and $13 an hour to keep spaces clear by putting down cones and waving off desperate drivers — often with mixed results.
“Certain people, they’re just not listening,” one parking assistant told DNAInfo. “I can’t do anything other than tell them, ‘Con Ed’s gonna tow you.’ ”
In wintertime, the “coneheads,” as they’re known, keep watch from the warmth of their cars. DNAInfo said it found no other city that pays day laborers to block parking.
Con Ed defended the practice.
“We must secure spots that our crews need to perform construction and repair work,” a spokesperson said in an e-mail to The Post.
Con Ed also found other, competing suppliers, which forced No Parking Today to lower the hourly rate it charges from $29 to $24 per assistant, DNAInfo reported.