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Maintenance of TVA-Owned Gas Pipelines

Report Information

Date Issued
Report Number
2021-15796
Report Type
Audit
Description
The Office of the Inspector General included an audit of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) maintenance of its owned gas pipelines in our annual audit plan due to pipeline issues identified at other utilities and potential risks to TVA. Our audit objective was to determine if TVA’s maintenance of its owned gas pipelines is adequate. We found TVA did not provide sufficient oversight of the two Contract Operations Providers and the Contract Engineering Provider. We found the lack of oversight resulted in inadequate maintenance in some areas and inconsistencies in reporting that hindered TVA’s ability to track and correct the identified deficiencies. In addition, we found TVA’s Gas Transmission Pipelines Policy (TVA Power Operations Standard Programs and Processes 09.120, Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline Operations) in place between July 2016 and October 2020 was limited and outdated on contractor oversight.
Joint Report
Yes
Participating OIG
Tennessee Valley Authority OIG
Agency Wide
Yes (agency-wide)
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0
View report on Oversight.gov

Recommendations

We recommend the Vice President, Generation Services reinforce the requirements for the Tennessee Valley Authority to provide oversight of its owned gas pipelines as provided for in the Gas Transmission Pipelines policy.

We recommend the Vice President, Generation Services develop an oversight program to track maintenance deficiencies.

We recommend the Vice President, Generation Services enforce contract documentation requirements to verify work required by Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration pipeline safety guidance is performed and properly documented and maintenance is performed as needed.