New York Power Authority

Controls Over Overtime

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) provides about a quarter of the electricity used in New York State, selling electricity to investor-owned utilities, large industrial customers, and government agencies in the New York City area. We audited NYPA’s use of overtime at its facilities, focusing on the two facilities where overtime costs were highest (the Niagara Power Project and the St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project).

We determined that the overtime hours worked were necessary to maintain minimum staffing levels and to repair operating systems. However, we found that overtime costs could have been reduced if each plant’s operations department had been adequately staffed. We also found that controls were adequate to ensure that employees were present during scheduled and overtime shifts, performing assigned duties, and recording time accurately on their timesheets. We recommended actions that NYPA could take to reduce its overtime costs and maintain adequate staffing levels.

For a complete copy of Report 2009-S-110 click here.
For a copy of the 90-day response click here.