NewsLocal NewsIn Your Parish

Actions

PSC audit confirms Huval’s findings: LUS paid Fiber for unused services

Posted at 10:57 AM, Jun 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-18 11:58:01-04

A Louisiana Public Service Commission audit confirms what a former director reported in 2018: Lafayette Utilities System paid LUS communications (fiber) division for services it never used, our media partners at The Advocate report.

An audit dated June 4 for the PSC shows LUS’ wastewater and electric divisions paid LUS communications six years for services it didn’t use. With interest, it totaled more than $1.75 million, which was returned by the communications division to the LUS Utilities Fund, the Advocate reported.

According to the Advocate, former long-time LUS Director Terry Huval reported the overpayment in 2018 after it was pointed out by an online news/opinion blog. At the time, Huval said he investigated and found fiber had been extended to some field operations, including sewer lift stations. Even though workers had not made the final connection between the fiber lines and the equipment, LUS paid the communications division for use of its fiber, he said.

To read the Advocate’s whole story click here.