All Reports

We investigated the amount of coal being left in barges after they were unloaded at the Cumberland Fossil Plant. Information provided by the barge company showed that from August 1, 2006 through July 31, 2007, TVA abandoned roughly 14,000 tons of coal per month. Based on the average cost per ton, including transportation costs, we estimated TVA lost over $6 million annually.

We reviewed hospitality expenses incurred by TVA October 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007, to (1) determine the type and level of expenditures; (2) assess compliance with policies and procedures; and (3) identify changes in hospitality policies since our last hospitality audit. We found total hospitality expenditures, including employee recognition expenses, averaged about $2.3 million per year during the period, representing a 64 percent reduction from fiscal year 2003 spending.

We performed agreed-upon procedures, requested solely to assist management in determining the validity of the Winning Performance payout awards for fiscal year (FY) ending September 30, 2007. In summary, we found:The FY 2007 Winning Performance goals were properly approved. Actual year-to-date inputs for the sampled metrics agreed with the respective basis worksheet.

We audited $324,000 of costs billed to TVA by a contractor for providing volunteer services using TVA retirees to determine if the contractor had billed TVA in accordance with the contract terms and conditions. In summary, we found the contractor had overbilled TVA $63,755 including (1) $44,855 of unsupported costs and (2) an estimated $18,900 of ineligible travel expenses.

This reporting period was marked by TVA leading the nation in the resurgence of nuclear power.

We initiated an inspection to determine whether the objectives of TVA Nuclear Medical Services (TVAN Medical) program were being met and assess compliance with applicable regulations. Our review included only the services being performed by TVAN Medical. In summary, we found no stated objectives, policies, or procedures relating specifically to TVAN Medical. In addition, varying services are being performed at the TVAN Medical site offices, and supervision of nurse practitioners may not be adequately ensured.

At the request of the Vice President, Paradise Fossil Plant (PAF), we conducted limited review to determine if ordered goods were received and properly recorded in PassPort at PAF. Our review included receipts at PAF from September 7, 2007, through September12, 2007. In summary, our review of selected receipts at PAF found the goods ordered for PAF were generally received, as ordered, and properly recorded in PassPort.

We performed a review to verify all production servers, databases, and the mainframe were being backed up. Our review found (1)all but 20 production distributed servers, (2)all production databases, and (3)the mainframe were being backed up at the time of our testing. Information Services provided explanations and/or actions taken for the 20 servers not being backed up. We also determined 13 backup policies (rules within the software used to backup servers) were obsolete or inactive and 9 servers did not have their exclude lists documented.

We audited $3.8million of costs billed to TVA by a contractor for providing reclearing and maintenance for transmission line right-of-way areas. In summary, we found the contractor could not provide support for an estimated $33,521 in labor costs. The contractor agreed with our finding and explained that on several occasions employees had been paid in cash. TVA management plans to recover the unsupported costs.

As part of our annual audit plan, we audited $11.3million in costs billed to TVA by a contractor, to design and install hydrated lime injection systems at various TVA fossil plants. Our audit objective was to determine if the costs the contractor billed to TVA were in compliance with the provisions of the contract. In summary, we determined the contractor billed TVA an estimated $310,818 for costs that were unsupported or not in accordance with the contract provisions.