System Operations Center Site Selection

Based on the importance of the System Operations Center to the transmission system, we performed an evaluation of the site-selection process to determine if the selected site (1) met regulatory requirements and established criteria and (2) provided financial or operational benefits over other potential locations considered. We determined the site selected for the System Operations Center met established criteria and regulatory requirements. However, we could not determine if the site selected provided financial or operational benefits over other potential locations considered. We identified several issues in the site-selection process, including (1) inaccurate analysis, (2) cost considerations that were high level and not documented, and (3) duplicate parcels. As a result, we determined 4 of the final 6 sites were incorrectly considered for selection by TVA because they did not meet one or more of TVA’s established criteria. Additionally, we identified 1 site that was prematurely eliminated from consideration that should have been included in TVA’s final site selection evaluation.