The recent audit by the City Auditor's Office has shed some light on the current state of the electric system operations in Denton, with a focus on infrastructure planning, construction, and maintenance processes managed by Denton Municipal Electric (DME). The report indicates that although DME has put into place adequate processes to identify electric infrastructure needs, improvements can still be made in project planning, design processes, and inventory management, according to the City of Denton, Texas.
According to the Audit of Electric System Operations: Project Planning & Asset Management report, DME has historically taken an ad-hoc approach to project planning and design. While adequate quality control measures exist, the need for additional written guidance to ensure consistency is clear. DME's inventory management faces hurdles with staff limitations leading to duties not being appropriately divided, and nationwide supply shortages further strain the system. This has resulted in items being stored in less secure conditions, though the City charges DME for managing their separate warehouse locations.
The other report, Audit of Electric System Operations: System Maintenance & Safety, highlights that while DME is up to par with documenting required infrastructure maintenance and repair activities, their records of non-required maintenance, like tree trimming activities around transmission and distribution lines, need to be more comprehensive. Due to limited documentation, there is difficulty in ascertaining whether all vegetation management program requirements are met.
A comprehensive safety program for Denton Municipal Electric (DME) employees is in place, but the existing training tracking methods could be optimized. The audit suggests that providing more guidance on documenting worksite inspections, and when to perform root-cause analyses would enhance the ability to analyze trends and possibly pre-empt issues before they arise. These detailed findings aim to catalyze the improvement of the City's electric system operations, particularly amid the growing demands on infrastructure and the added challenges brought on by nationwide supply shortages.
