All Reports

We reviewed TVA cost recovery for tritium production under Interagency Agreement DE-A102-00DP00315 with the Department of Energy (DOE). The audit covered the period from January 2000 through December 2009 with some scope restrictions due to incomplete accounting data. We were unable to determine if tritium production costs were accurately identified and invoiced or if any negative impacts on plant operation from tritium production were reimbursed by DOE due to inadequate documentation.

Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) fossil fleet consists of 56 operating units at 11 fossil plants in the Tennessee Valley. Through the third quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2010, TVA purchased 25.2 million tons of coal totaling $1.36 billion and burned 25.7 million tons totaling $1.50 billion. TVA's fuel inventory as of June 30, 2010, was $518,658,383. We assessed the operating effectiveness of the controls over the receipt and burning of coal at the fossil plants, including inventory adjustments.

The OIG performed an audit of Florence Electricity Department (Florence), a distributor of Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) power based in Florence, Alabama. Florence also operates water, waste water, and gas departments, and provides billing services for these utilities and other municipalities. Annual revenues from electric sales were approximately $116 million in fiscal year (FY) 2009.

As part of our annual inspection plan, we initiated a review of the fire protection systems at the Raccoon Mountain Pumped-Storage Plant. In meeting with plant personnel, we were informed that in July 2010, Marsh Risk Consulting issued a report which included a number of recommendations for the plant to improve fire protection at the site. Based upon this, we decided to perform a walkdown of the site and a limited review of testing/inspection documentation for a sample of the fixed fire protection systems at the site.We noted no issues during our walkdown of the facility.

TVA entered into contract No. 65419 with Bechtel Power Corporation on October 19, 2007, to provide engineering, construction, and procurement work related to the restart of Unit 2 at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN U2). Section II-13 - Correction of the Work Prior to Commencement of Warranty Period of the contract stipulates the guidelines related to what does and does not constitute rework as it relates to determining Bechtel's performance fee.

The OIG performed an audit of Newport Utilities, a distributor for Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) power based in Newport, Tennessee. Newport Utilities also operates nonelectric businesses, which are water and sewer utilities. Annual revenues from electric sales were approximately $50 million in fiscal year 2009.

The OIG reviewed North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (NGEMC), a distributor for Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) power based in Dalton, Georgia. The objective of the review was to determine compliance with key provisions of the power contract between TVA and NGEMC. Our review found 34 misclassified customer accounts.

The OIG performed a follow up audit of Inspection No. 2005 522I, where we recommended TVA execute contract modifications with distributors who wish to pursue nonelectric business ventures, and TVA management agreed to do so. In addition, TVA management asserted they would formalize procedures to ensure consistent review of (1) distributor financial information and (2) business plans that propose the use of electric system revenues for nonelectric system purposes.Our review found TVA management later decided on an alternative approach to protect its interests and those of all parties.

The OIG reviewed the Pulaski Electric System, a distributor for TVA power based in Pulaski, Tennessee. Pulaski also provides billing services for other city utilities and operates a broadband department that offers cable and Internet services.

The OIG reviewed the TVA's compliance with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) of 2002. Our review determined TVA made significant improvement in two FISMA control areas in the past year. However, overall progress in implementing information technology controls required by FISMA has slowed, while TVA continues work on previously recommended actions and redesigns some processes.