PSC won’t adopt Entergy audit over unanswered questions
The Public Service Commission refused Wednesday to adopt an annual audit of Entergy Mississippi and Mississippi Power Co. because of unanswered questions about how they purchased power.
The commission said it will submit the report to the Legislature as required by law but will ask lawmakers to require a more complex review of the companies’ power and fuel purchases and to give the PSC additional staff to monitor the utilities.
“Our ultimate goal is to make sure people are not being overcharged,” said Leonard Bentz, commissioner for the Southern District.
Commissioners questioned the Public Utilities Staff, an independent state agency, Wednesday afternoon about its annual audit of Entergy Mississippi and Mississippi Power for fiscal 2008.
“We are going to report it and (we) feel like this practice does not meet the statute, and we want to do a further audit,” Commissioner Brandon Presley, who represents the Northern District, said.
The commission wants to have an independent audit done that companies would finance. Currently, taxpayers pay for the audits.
Clarion Ledger
1/15/9
Magnolia Tribune
