Dixie Electric Membership Corporation, Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, Generally Accounted For and Expended FEMA Grants Funds Properly

Dixie Electric received a $9.2 million award in FEMA grant funds for 2012 Hurricane Isaac damages to its facilities located in Greenwell Springs, Louisiana. Our audit objective was to determine whether Dixie Electric accounted for and expended FEMA funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. Dixie Electric Membership Corporation (Dixie Electric) generally accounted for and expended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance grant funds according to Federal requirements. Dixie Electric used its own employees, mutual aid agreements with other electric cooperatives, and contractors to restore power to its customers by September 4, 2012, only 6 days after the disaster. Although Dixie Electric did not always comply with Federal procurement standards in awarding 10 contracts for disaster work totaling $4.4 million, we question only $21,740 for non-compliance because contractors performed most of the work under exigent circumstances to restore power.