Federal Reports

The Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Enterprise Planning organization engages in long-term generation and capacity planning to support TVA’s mission of providing low-cost, reliable electricity. TVA’s capacity plan is designed to ensure resource adequacy while working to minimize cost to customers and develop a long-term strategy for the TVA power system. Long-term generation planning allows for the optimal use of available resources to meet the future energy needs across TVA’s service area, factoring in operating area and system constraints. Collectively, the capacity and generation plans are referred to as the Power Supply Plan. Due to the importance of power supply planning to TVA’s fuel cost forecasting and operational decision-making, we conducted an evaluation to determine whether TVA is using accurate inputs to develop the Power Supply Plan.We tested seven inputs to the Power Supply Plan, including two key inputs, and determined six were inaccurate. Specifically, we found errors in the (1) fuel costs, (2) load forecast, (3) Southeastern Power Administration hydro generation forecast, (4) solar purchased power agreement contract terms, (5) coal ancillary services, and (6) demand response capacities and costs. We also noted an opportunity for improvement related to the level of detail contained in the documentation available to guide the load forecasting process. Due to the complex nature of TVA’s power supply planning models and forecasting methodologies, we were unable to determine the overall impact of the errors identified on the Power Supply Plan. While the impacts we were able to quantify were low, having errors in six of seven inputs we reviewed indicates there could be risk to the integrity of information being provided to and by TVA’s Power Supply Plan. Additionally, various personnel raised concerns regarding the reliability of information being provided by TVA’s Power Supply Plan, specifically in the burn forecast.

The lack of board members continues to be the biggest risk to CSB operations.

The lack of board members continues to be the biggest risk to CSB operations.

This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report highlights the results of a focused evaluation of VHA facilities’ high-risk processes. The report describes findings from healthcare inspections performed at 45 medical facilities during fiscal year 2021 that focused on selected management of disruptive and violent behavior requirements. Each inspection involved interviews with key staff and reviews of clinical and administrative processes.The OIG found general compliance with many of the selected requirements. However, the OIG identified weaknesses with and issued three recommendations related to• required members’ attendance at disruptive behavior committee or board meetings,• patient notification of Orders of Behavioral Restriction, and• completion of required training.

As part of a Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Disaster Assistance Working Group cross-cutting initiative, we summarized the conclusions, findings, and recommendations of 28 reports related to the Federal Government’s natural disaster preparedness and response issued by 7 Offices of Inspector General (OIGs). The seven participating OIGs included U.S. Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and Transportation and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Many of these reports focused on the Federal Government’s preparedness to respond to the devastating 2017 hurricanes.The 28 OIG reports, issued between June 2015 and November 2021, made 89 recommendations to the Federal agencies and grant recipients, including recapturing questioned costs, strengthening internal controls, maintaining adequate oversight of contractors and grants, and complying with Federal regulations. Agencies should learn from the results of these reports and implement controls and systems to limit future obstacles to spending disaster funds efficiently and effectively.Click below to read more about each management challenge. Challenge 1: Performance Management and AccountabilityChallenge 2: Human Capital ManagementChallenge 3: Financial ManagementChallenge 4: Procurement ManagementChallenge 5: Grant ManagementChallenge 6: Homeland Security and Disaster PreparednessChallenge 7: Information Technology Security and ManagementAppendix B Click here to access the full report. To access the CIGIE's 2021 Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing Multiple Federal Agencies report, click here.

A U.S. Postal Service money order is a financial document similar to U.S. currency and is sold by Postal Service window clerks. Customers can purchase money orders for a fee in varying amounts and redeem them at any post office. Although the Postal Service categorizes money orders as market dominant products, they can be purchased from certain commercial banks and money transfer agencies such as Western Union and MoneyGram. The maximum amount for a single Postal Service, Western Union, or MoneyGram domestic money order is $1,000.What We Did

This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report highlights the results of an evaluation of VHA facilities’ mental health programs. The report describes findings from healthcare inspections performed at 44 medical facilities during fiscal year 2021 that focused on suicide risk screening and evaluation processes in emergency departments and urgent care centers. Each inspection involved interviews with key staff and reviews of clinical and administrative processes. The OIG found general compliance with most of the selected requirements. However, the OIG identified a weakness with the completion of mandatory training by staff who develop suicide safety plans and issued one recommendation. Lack of training could prevent staff from providing optimal treatment to veterans who are at risk for suicide.