Status of Bonneville Power Administration's Efforts To Improve Its Oversight of Three Nuclear Power Projects

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) oversight of three nuclear projects being constructed by the Washington Public Power Supply System.

GAO found that the construction history of the projects reflects substantial cost overruns and schedule delays. Under its agreements with the System, BPA has certain oversight rights and authorities, including the authority to disapprove the System's annual budgets, access System and project contractor books, access information on project planning and construction, and maintain a representative at the project sites. GAO noted in an earlier report that, while these agreements allowed BPA the right to monitor and critique System actions, they did not give BPA the ability to participate fully in the System's decisionmaking process. It was also found that BPA was not reviewing and monitoring System reorganizations and staff reductions to ensure that they were consistent with efficient operations and management. GAO stated that procedures are needed to ensure that BPA is monitoring all facets of plant management and taking full advantage of all available oversight authorities. Further, BPA should be in a position not only to anticipate problems at the System, but to assist in their early resolution.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Daniel C. White Team: General Accounting Office: Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division Phone: (301) 353-3711