Press Release

PUC Audit Makes Management Recommendations to SUEZ Water PA

Published on 3/16/2017

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG  – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today released a report on the Focused Management and Operations Audit of SUEZ Water Pennsylvania, Inc. (SUEZ) that could provide a combined estimated annual cost savings of up to $161,000 and a one-time savings of approximately $277,000.

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 9 functional areas. The audit was conducted by the PUC’s Bureau of Audits.

The Audit Report makes 28 recommendations to SUEZ for improvement. SUEZ indicated acceptance with 26 recommendations and partial acceptance of two recommendations. Some of the more notable recommendations include:

• Strive to meet Non-Revenue Water goals and reduce Unaccounted-for-Water levels below the Commission’s guidelines of 20 percent;
• Establish uniform physical security standards for each type of facility at SUEZ;
• Correct minor physical security deficiencies and perform ongoing physical security reviews of all facilities;
• Identify methods to improve call center performance and strive to meet established goals;
• Accelerate main replacement efforts to achieve main replacement rates of approximately 100 to 120 years;
• Develop a comprehensive damage prevention program;
• Design and implement a policy of layered physical security for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) equipment, controllers and servers;
• Work with SUEZ Water Management and Services to improve the level of detail provided on intercompany invoices and reports;
• Strive to perform a vulnerability assessment every ten years, and revise physical and cybersecurity plans to address any new threats or vulnerabilities that are identified;
• Develop inventory turnover goals and strive to achieve an inventory turnover of at least 2.0; and
• Utilize existing platforms to proactively engage customers, especially online.

The Commission directs SUEZ to proceed with its February 2017 Implementation Plan, and to submit annual implementation progress reports by March 1^st for the next three years.  SUEZ indicates that it plans to complete implementation of all recommendations by December 2018.

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” PA Public Utility Commission” on Facebook for easy access to information on electric shopping.

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Docket No.    D-2016-2528481

Contact:

• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov