Press Release

PUC Audit Makes Management Recommendations to Columbia Gas of PA

Published on 8/15/2013

Filed under: Gas

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today released a report on the Focused Management and Operations Audit of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Inc. (Columbia Gas).

Commissioner James H. Cawley issued a statement. 

The Commission voted 5-0 to make the audit report and the company’s implementation plan public.  The Focused Management and Operations Audit analyzed and evaluated management performance in eight areas. The audit was conducted by the PUC’s Bureau of Audits staff.

The audit makes 12 recommendations to the company for improvement. The company indicated acceptance of 11 recommendations, and rejection of one in its implementation plan.

The audit recommendations included:

• Assess high levels of overtime by individual field operations employees and adjust overtime practices, call out procedures, shift work, and/or stand by procedures as needed.
• Expedite hiring of vacant operations-related positions and timely conduct a study to determine needed staffing in anticipation of expanded capital projects and field operations retirements.
• Improve dispatching methodologies to ensure that all emergency dispatches can be completed within 15 minutes of the emergency call receipt by implementing new or modifying existing procedures for call outs, stand by lists, shift work and/or staffing levels.
• Complete implementation of mobile automated meter reading and enact additional measures as necessary to minimize the number of meters not read within six months and 12 months and that, at a minimum, customer supplied reads are acquired every six months.
• Strive to maintain the expedited replacement schedule of first generation pipe.
• Accelerate efforts to relocate inside meter sets or, at a minimum, the associated regulators outside the structure.
• Strive to minimize write-offs of delinquent accounts receivable by exploring potential solutions to enhance the collection efforts. 

The company rejected a recommendation to rotate the external audit firm on a periodic basis, or, at a minimum, ensure that the audit firm periodically rotates its audit manager and audit teams.

Columbia Gas provides natural gas service to 415,000 customers in 26 counties in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner. 

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov.  Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” PAPowerSwitch on Facebook for easy access to information on electric shopping.

###

Docket Number D-2012-2290672

Contact:

• Denise McCracken
  Senior Communications Specialist
  717-787-5722
  demccracken@pa.gov