Press Release

PUC Efficiency Investigation Shows Peoples TWP LLC Realizes $306,000 in Annual Savings after Implementing Previous Audit Recommendations

Published on 10/24/2012

Filed under: Gas

HARRISBURG – According to an audit report released today by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), Peoples TWP LLC (Peoples TWP) is realizing annual savings of $306,000 from implementation of prior recommendations from a Focused Management and Operations Audit report.

            The Commission voted 5-0 to make the audit report and the Company’s implementation plan to address those recommendations public.  The PUC’s Management Efficiency Investigation (MEI) examined Peoples TWP’s progress in implementing 17 of the 28 original recommendations from the prior management audit report released in April 2009. 

            According to the MEI, Peoples TWP has effectively implemented 13 of the 17 prior recommendations reviewed and has taken some action on the remaining four recommendations.  Some of the changes made by the company include:

• Decreasing the number of third party hits to its underground facilities;
• Reducing the number of leaks in its distribution system by approximately 14 percent since 2007;
• Reducing its average emergency response times;
• Focusing efforts on in-house collections and reserving collection agencies for use after Company collection efforts have been exhausted;
• Significantly decreasing the percentage of customer meters not read within six months; and
• Improving its readiness to respond to emergency situations.

            Additionally, the Commission’s Bureau of Audits made eight follow-up recommendations for improvement, including:

• Continue the recently expedited pace of the bare steel replacement plans within the company’s distribution system infrastructure;
• Strive to achieve previously approved call center performance standards;
• Accelerate efforts to locate customer meters outside of structures;
• Expedite the inclusion of unionized hourly employees into the Code of Conduct policy training process; and
• Revise the Damage Prevention Plan to include a reference to the Emergency Response Plan’s section for local emergency responder contact information. 

            Peoples TWP provides natural gas service to 62,800 customers in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Indiana, Jefferson, and Westmoreland counties.

            The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

            For recent news releases, video and audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov.

Docket Number D-2011-2251421

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• Press Secretary
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