INVERSO ON BPU AUDIT:
Report Raises Questions About Ethical and Financial Wrongdoing

In response to the release of a long-suppressed audit of the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) Clean Energy Program conducted in 2004 by the State Department of the Treasury, Senator Peter Inverso, (R-Mercer/Middlesex), demanded that a thorough investigation be undertaken to determine whether any laws were broken by BPU officials.
In response to the release of a long-suppressed audit of the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) Clean Energy Program conducted in 2004 by the State Department of the Treasury, Senator Peter Inverso, (R-Mercer/Middlesex), demanded that a thorough investigation be undertaken to determine whether any laws were broken by BPU officials.

“The contents of the audit conducted by the Department of the Treasury are very disturbing and unfortunately validate my initial concerns,� Inverso stated. Document shredding, disappearing laptop computers, a complete lack of accounting controls, and the awarding of contracts without competition to neighbors and associates demands an immediate investigation of the responsible BPU officials.�

The audit released yesterday lists several potential conflicts of interest involving former and current employees of the BPU and the Clean Energy Program regarding payments made to and by former and current employees of the BPU and the Clean Energy Program. The audit also lists multiple accounting lapses and a complete lack of oversight by BPU management. Moreover, the report also states that the audit could not be performed in a comprehensive fashion because of the weak internal controls at the BPU. The audit also details numerous instances of non-cooperation with Treasury Department auditors by the officials and employees of the BPU and the Clean Energy Program.

“The Attorney General stated before the Senate Judiciary Committee that she was reviewing this growing scandal, yet she has not indicated how she intends to pursue the numerous and alarming allegations of ethical and financial wrongdoing contained in the audit report. If she cannot provide the Legislature and the public with assurances that a complete investigation is forthcoming, then it may be time for special independent investigator to review these disturbing issues, who would report directly to the Legislature.�