Tennessee Valley Authority Can Improve Estimates and Should Reassess Reserve Requirements for Nuclear Power Plants

The policies and procedures used by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in the development of cost and schedule estimates for the construction of nuclear powerplants at Hartsville (Tennessee), Phipps Bend (Tennessee), and Yellow Creek (Mississippi) were reviewed. In September, 1978, TVA was operating one nuclear plant and constructing six more. TVA developed estimates of completion time without taking into account such factors as inclement weather, labor shortages, scheduling difficulties, regulatory changes, design changes, or delays in receiving supplies. Generating capacity requirements based on demand forecasts include a reserve factor of about 30 percent, which is equal to about one-third to one-half of the generating capability to be provided by TVA's seven nuclear plants.