All Reports

Cumberland Fossil Plant (CUF) is one of the fossil plants relied upon to assist TVA in meeting its mission. CUF's mission, in support of the overarching TVA mission, is "to provide low cost, reliable generation and ancillary services while keeping our people safe and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations." This review identified operational and cultural strengths and opportunities for improvement at TVA's CUF.

As part of our annual audit plan, the OIG audited costs billed to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) by VECTOR. VECTOR is a joint venture between Bechtel Power Corporation and Sargent & Lundy, L.L.C. (S&L) that provided engineering services for Bellefonte Nuclear Plant Unit 1. Our objective was to determine if the $26.8 million in S&L costs paid by TVA from October 1, 2010, through December 31, 2012, were in accordance with the contract terms and conditions. In summary, we determined VECTOR overbilled TVA $322,535 for S&L's services.

In August 2008, numerous newspaper articles questioned the fairness of a TVA Maintain and Gain transaction granting water access to The Cove at Blackberry Ridge LLC (Blackberry). The articles raised questions about whether the Blackberry's primary investor, a Congressman, used his position to influence TVA's decision to grant Blackberry's request for water access. Because doubt was cast on the fairness of a TVA process, the OIG conducted an inspection and found no evidence of pressure on TVA from the Congressman to give Blackberry water access on this lakefront project.

The TVA developed an integrated resource plan (IRP) to guide the organization in meeting future energy demand. Due to the importance of the TVA's IRP as a directional document for TVA's future, the OIG evaluated the adequacy of TVA's development process for the 2015 IRP, including demand-side and supply-side strategies. We determined TVA's process for developing the 2015 IRP was adequate in considering potential future uncertainties and associated responses.

The OIG audited TVA's Contractor Workforce Management (CWM) process for acquiring craft and noncraft staff augmentation contractors to determine whether the process was operating as intended and risks were being adequately mitigated. The purpose of the process was to "maintain the highest performing contractor workforce at the lowest total cost of ownership."We determined there was no assurance the process was operating as intended, and some risks were not being adequately mitigated.

In October 2014, the OIG completed an audit of the TVA executive retention. As a follow-up to that audit, we initiated an audit of TVA's executive incentives. Our objectives were to determine (1) if executive incentives align with TVA's objectives and goals, and(2) whether processes for establishing executive incentive performance measures are followed.

The OIG performed this audit to determine TVA Information Technology Enterprise Customer Operations' (ECO): (1) current effectiveness, (2) actions completed in the implementation of management action plans and Information Technology (IT) 1K initiatives in relation to achieving outcomes, and (3) design of the management action plans in response to Audit No. 2010-13366 and IT1K program for gaps related to any outcomes not met.

The OIG performed this audit to determine whether (1) TVA systems development processes were being followed and (2) business processes were considered during implementation of the project. In summary, we determined the TVA project team followed TVA systems development processes and included consideration of business processes during implementation.

The OIG performed this audit to (1) identify excessive amounts of overtime, (2) determine if overtime was properly approved and(3) determine if controls are in place to prevent situations where fatigue could reduce the ability of operating personnel to work in a safe condition. During our audit, we found overtime hours were not passed to TVA's payroll system for payment until they had been approved in the time-reporting system, eWorkplace. Although the post approval process appears adequate, we found inconsistent methods for documenting preapproval of overtime.

The OIG performed this audit to determine TVA Information Technology Operation Solution Delivery's (OSD) current effectiveness, including alignment with TVA values. During our interviews with OSD personnel and customers, we found both groups expressed concern regarding the number of resources assigned to OSD. While OSD is currently able to meet needs and cover the workload for supporting operational applications, OSD's resources are stretched, and as new technologies and needs arise, the current level of staff may not be able to meet customers' needs.