Press Release

PUC Audit Makes Management Recommendations to Newtown Artesian Water Company

Published on 5/4/2017

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today released a report on the Focused Management and Operations Audit of Newtown Artesian Water Co.

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

The Audit Report makes 18 recommendations to Newtown for improvement. Newtown indicated acceptance of 17 recommendations and rejection of one recommendation in its Implementation Plan. Some of the more notable recommendations include:

• Reduce cast iron and asbestos cement mains in a more aggressive time frame;
• Expedite the removal of all lead services in the distribution system;
• Strive to use the Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping system for all distribution system activities and ensure accurate records of all assets;
• Document the Company’s operating policies and procedures and provide access to appropriate employees;
• Test emergency preparedness plans, or portions of it, on an annual basis. 
• Conduct a manpower planning study including a process review of prescribed maintenance tasks to assess optimizing internal resources and employing contractors to strategically address workload levels;
• Establish a critical valve list and strive to exercise critical valves on an annual basis. 

The Audit Staff plans to follow-up on the Company’s implementation efforts related to the more significant recommendations during the next Management Efficiency Investigation, which should commence sometime in mid-2019.

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” Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Facebook for easy access to information on utility shopping.

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Docket Number D-2016-2559577

Contact:

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