Energy Management:

Actions To Improve Timeliness of FERC Responses to Investigative Reports

RCED-88-92, Feb 19, 1988

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In response to a congressional request, GAO examined: (1) the Department of Energy's Office of the Inspector General's (OIG) investigations into allegations of improprieties involving high-level employees at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); and (2) FERC responses to the OIG reports.

GAO found that: (1) OIG issued 8 reports covering the 34 allegations, 7 of which went to the FERC chairman; (2) OIG developed recommendations which called for FERC to take actions relating to specific employees and to improve its operations, policies, and procedures; (3) although OIG requested that FERC respond in writing within 30 days, FERC responses to five of the seven reports took over 150 days; and (4) FERC lacks internal directives covering responses to OIG investigative reports.

Status Legend:

More Info
  • Review Pending-GAO has not yet assessed implementation status.
  • Open-Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned, or actions that partially satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-implemented-Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-not implemented-While the intent of the recommendation has not been satisfied, time or circumstances have rendered the recommendation invalid.
    • Review Pending
    • Open
    • Closed - implemented
    • Closed - not implemented

    Recommendation for Executive Action

    Recommendation: The Chairman, FERC, should ensure that recommendations in OIG investigative reports are responded to and resolved in a timely manner by amending FERC Administrative Directives 9-1A and 9-4 to: (1) include time frames for responding to and resolving recommendations contained in OIG investigative reports; and (2) assign responsibility to a high-level FERC official for ensuring that responses are properly prepared and recommendations resolved within these time frames.

    Agency Affected: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

    Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: The Chairman, FERC, had the administrative directives amended in accordance with the recommendation.