In today's resource-constrained environment, determining the effectiveness and efficiency of a utility's management and operations, especially in relation to compliance directives, may require the use of independent auditors. Commissions and interested stakeholders sometimes have difficulty obtaining answers to questions that would assist them in fully understanding the underlying information, analyses, assumptions, and management and operating practices that are affecting utility costs. In order to create and sustain a competitive environment, businesses and regulators should have effective management controls in place to ensure that resources are being used to maximize the value to customers.

Blue Ridge provides its clients with a full range of management and operational audit† services. These audits can be as rigorous and comprehensive as a client requires. In addition, Blue Ridge is well versed in rate cases with the skills to conduct thorough, detailed examinations of a utility's rate case filings to ensure an accurate and fully supported filing.

Blue Ridge's expertise covers most management and operational aspects of a utility including the following:

• Corporate Mission and Organization
• Strategic Planning
• Affiliate Transactions including cost allocation
• Customer Service
• Financial Systems
• Fleet Management
• Human Resources
• Information Management
• Procurement and Materials Management
• Planning, implementation, and monitoring of capital programs and projects
• Policy and procedure effectiveness and compliance review
• Capital and budget process
• Energy and fuel procurement
• Power supply or purchased gas adjustments
• Power and natural gas hedging and energy trading
• Transmission and distribution operations and maintenance
• Internal controls
• Risk management
• Ethics
• Workforce Management