Three of Pennsylvania’s energy companies may realize yearly savings of up to $233,400 and one-time savings up to $241,000 by implementing recommendations of a recent audit, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) said Friday.

The commission voted 5-0 to make the audit report and the companies’ implementation plan public. Electric companies Citizens’ Electric Co. and Wellsboro Electric Co. as well as natural gas company Valley Energy Inc. are owned by C&T Enterprises Inc., which in turn is jointly owned by two electric cooperatives. The audit analyzed and evaluated management performance in eight areas.

Citizens’ Electric serves about 6,500 customers in Union and Northumberland counties, while Wellsboro Electric serves about 5,900 customers in Tioga County. Valley Energy serves about 5,500 natural gas customers in Bradford County.

The audit makes 28 recommendations to the companies. According to the companies, seven of the recommendations have been implemented; four have been partially implemented; and plans are under way to implement the remaining recommendations by June 2008. Recommendations include:

The PSC said its bureau of audits will conduct a follow-up on the companies’ implementation efforts during a future investigation.

©Copyright 2007Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.