New York City Comptroller John Liu said his office would audit the billing practices of Navigant Consulting Inc. after a state commission questioned the firm’s dealings with the Long Island Power Authority.
The city has paid Navigant millions of dollars in consulting work, mayoral candidate Liu said Monday.
On Sunday, the Moreland Commission on Utility Storm Preparation and Response said the Long Island Power Authority paid $28 million to Navigant from 2008 to 2011.
The panel, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo convened last November after Hurricane Sandy, cited “highly questionable billing issues, reimbursements for exorbitant and non-work related expenses, and a disturbing revolving door practice between Navigant and LIPA staff that could breach state ethics law.”
Cuomo said he has referred the commission’s findings regarding the LIPA-Navigant relationship to federal prosecutors.
“Navigant and our professionals adhere to the highest industry standards of ethics and integrity. We were not aware of the claims in the Moreland Commission report until it was publicly released,” the firm said in a statement. “We take the questions raised by the commission in its report very seriously and are closely reviewing the facts related to each question in detail. We will cooperate fully with authorities seeking any further information.”
Last week, the state legislature approved Cuomo’s plan to sell LIPA to privately held Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. of Newark, N.J.
