All Reports

The OIG audited the subcontracting process used by URS Energy & Construction, Inc. (URS), under contract numbers 66777 and 72142. Under the contracts, URS was to provide design, engineering, procurement, delivery, installation, and construction management services for TVA's (1) combined cycle combustion turbine or simple cycle combustion turbine projects and (2) various equipment for selective catalytic reduction and dry flue gas desulfurization precipitators.

The OIG evaluated the adequacy of actions taken to mitigate combustible coal dust at TVA coal plants.

The OIG performed four agreed-upon procedures which were requested solely to assist management in determining the validity of the TVA Winning Performance payout awards for the fiscal year (FY) ended September 30, 2013. In summary, we found:The FY 2013 Winning Performance goals were properly approved. One change form for FY 2013 was approved on March 3, 2013; two change forms were approved on June 7, 2013; one change form was approved September 16, 2013: and one was signed but not dated.

At the request of Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Supply Chain and TVA's Senior Vice President, Generation Construction, we audited $66.4 million in costs billed to TVA by Phillips and Jordan, Inc. (P&J), under an Advance Authorization (AA) agreement and Contract No. 78268. The AA agreement and contract provided for P&J to unload and dispose of at least four million tons of coal combustion by-products from the coal combustion by-products spill at TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant in December 2008.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) identified asset performance and operations as a major risk for the agency. Without effective management of critical spare parts, TVA could face equipment failure which could result in safety and generating failures. This review was initiated to determine if the Nuclear Power Group (NPG) and Coal & Gas Operations (C&GO) were effectively managing critical spare parts.We found critical spare parts could be managed more effectively. We found there were inconsistencies in TVA's management of its critical spare parts.

This review was initiated in follow up to a recent OIG review of TVA's project management software, PowerPlant. During that review, we identified several areas for further analysis related to timely project approvals, delegated approvals, and project charges allocated incorrectly.

Preventive maintenance (PM) is important to the reliable operation of assets. As a result of recent issues with nuclear performance, the OIG conducted a review of Nuclear Power Group's (NPG) PM program. The objective of this review was to determine if nuclear plant PM had been performed in accordance with established schedules, and if not, what effect the deviations were having.We found that reported PM metrics may not be accurate. During our review, we identified several concerns that raised questions about the validity of reported PM metrics.

The TVA has stated its future depends on effective succession planning and faces a potential workforce challenge due to retirement within the next five years. Also, TVA has identified a risk of senior leadership attrition that could leave a gap in key positions. This review was conducted as a follow-up to a previous OIG review of TVA's succession planning. The objective of this review was to assess TVA's succession planning.This review found TVA has made improvements to succession planning; however, areas for improvement still exist.

TVA introduced the Valley Investment Initiative (VII) program as a means to incentivize customers to invest in the economic development of its geographic area. The OIG included a review of the VII program in its annual audit plan as the budget for this program has significantly increased since its inception in 2009. Our audit objective was to determine if TVA was exercising adequate oversight over the VII program.

At the request of the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Supply Chain and Senior Vice President, Generation Construction, the OIG audited the costs billed to TVA by AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc., (AMEC) for loading coal combustion by-products from the spill at TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant onto rail cars and/or trucks for off-site disposal under an advance authorization agreement (AA) and AMEC's contract with TVA. The audit included $19.3 million in costs billed to TVA from June 2, 2009, through January 13, 2011.