All Reports

In a previous OIG review of how TVA organizations assess the condition of assets, we learned asset condition assessments completed by River Operations (RO) had determined some assets were deteriorated. As a follow up to our prior work, we reviewed whether TVA was taking action to address RO systems and components with deteriorated conditions.

The OIG assessed the effectiveness of the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) organization's role within TVA's overall risk management program. To aid in our assessment, we compiled the results of prior relevant audits and evaluations to identify common themes that bear on the ERM organization's effectiveness.We found TVA has made improvements in its ERM program since a 2008 OIG inspection was completed.

At the request of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Supply Chain organization, the OIG audited $22.7 million in costs billed to TVA by Comdata Network, Inc. The contractor was to provide TVA with a MasterCard platform and issue fuel cards to TVA personnel to purchase fuel, vehicle fluids, and car washes for TVA-related business. The objective of the audit was to determine if costs paid by TVA from October 1, 2011, through June 30, 2013, were billed in accordance with contract terms.

The OIG reviewed Coal Operations' (CO) 4th quarter fiscal year (FY) 2012 and 2nd and 4th quarters FY2013 enterprise risk maps for asset performance vulnerability to assess whether risk mitigation plans and actions were established and properly designed to manage risks. We determined the 4th quarter FY2013 mitigation plans and actions were adequately designed to manage the risks.

During 2012, we completed an audit of TVA's Financial Trading Program (FTP) audit number 2011-14477. The program, which started in 2003, was designed to hedge or otherwise limit economic risk associated with the price of commodities recovered in TVA's fuel cost adjustment (FCA). Since the hedging of natural gas comprised the majority of the hedging program, we generally limited our scope to the gas hedging program.

In completing project number 2009-12883, Survey of TVA's Process for Determining Condition of Assets, with a report dated September 20, 2012, the OIG learned that asset condition assessments performed by the Nuclear Power Group (NPG) had determined some generation assets were in poor condition. As a follow up to our prior work, we performed a review to determine whether TVA was taking action to address NPG systems, components, and programs with poor ratings. Under NPG's health report process, actions were required when ratings were designated red or yellow.

The Non-Nuclear Employee Concerns Program (ECP) is important to the Tennessee Valley Authority's current culture and environment. The OIG conducted a review to determine whether the program was addressing employee concerns in a timely and effective manner.We found improvements in the Non-Nuclear ECP have been made in addressing concerns in a timely manner, but the effectiveness of the program could be improved.

The OIG audited costs billed to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) by AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc., for a broad range of geotechnical services to support engineering design for structures, earthwork, and environmental projects under Contract No. 21705. Our audit included $5.33 million in costs billed between June 1, 2009, and October 23, 2012. Our objective was to determine if the costs billed to TVA were in compliance with the contract terms and conditions.In summary, we determined AMEC overbilled TVA an estimated $100,441.

Due to the importance of reliable nuclear production at TVA, the OIG audited the risk of long term equipment reliability in the Nuclear Power Group (NPG). Our objectives were to assess whether risk mitigation plans and actions were established and properly designed to achieve the desired results and operating as intended, as well as identify opportunities to improve mitigation strategies for reducing long term equipment reliability risk in NPG. Our audit determined the mitigation plans identified were adequately designed to address this risk.