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****PRELIMINARY AND TENTATIVE FINDINGS**** <br />Recommendation: Since ARP revenue requirements are calculated using monthly coincident peak <br />demands, the FMPA should consider using a 12 -month average of coincident peak to more accurately <br />estimate the withdrawing member's share of fixed costs. Also, the FMPA should consider amending the <br />power supply project contracts to clarify how withdrawal payments are to be calculated, define "additional <br />benefits" and "excess amounts," establish a variable withdrawal payment discount rate that fluctuates with <br />the actual cost of debt, and remove the 90 percent cap of an ARP member's withdrawal payment. <br />Additionally, since the withdrawal payment can be used to temporarily correct deficiencies in other <br />operating funds and for "excess amounts" to be deposited in the "General Reserve Fund," it should be <br />determined how this ability to use these funds is recognized in the monthly revenue requirement calculation <br />for remaining ARP participants. <br />Information Technology <br />Finding No. 15: Disaster Recovery Plan <br />An important element of an effective internal control system over information technology (IT) operations is a disaster <br />recovery plan to help minimize data and asset loss in the event of a major hardware or software failure. One essential <br />element of a disaster recovery plan is a written agreement for an alternate processing facility that can be utilized for <br />continuity of operations, if necessary, including the specific responsibilities of both parties relating to the availability <br />and use of the facility. <br />While the FMPA had a disaster recovery plan that included a written agreement with an alternate processing site, the <br />alternate processing site was within the same city as the FMPA. A disaster covering a large geographical area, such as <br />a hurricane, could impact both the FMPA and the alternate processing site simultaneously, increasing the risk that the <br />FMPA may be unable to continue critical operations, or maintain availability of information systems data and <br />resources, in the event of a disruption of IT operations. <br />Recommendation: The FMPA should enter into a written agreement to procure an alternate processing <br />site that is sufficiently geographically distant to minimize the risk of being unable to continue critical <br />operations in the event of a hurricane or other geographically large disaster. <br />END OF P&T DOCUMENT <br />28 <br />30 <br />