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Home My WebLink About3 Audit _ Final Communications LetterCOMMUNICATIONS WITH THOSE CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE AND INTERNAL CONTROL RELATED MATTERS TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT December 31, 2017 1 Communications with Those Charged with Governance To the Board of Directors Truckee Donner Public Utility District We have audited the consolidated and primary government only financial statements of Truckee Donner Public Utility District (the District) as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017, and have issued our reports thereon dated May 25, 2018. Professional standards require that we provide you with the following information related to our audit. OUR RESPONSIBILITY UNDER AUDITING STANDARDS GENERALLY ACCEPTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA As stated in our engagement letter dated February 7, 2018, our responsibility, as described by professional standards, is to form and express an opinion about whether the consolidated financial statements prepared by management with your oversight are fairly presented, in all material respects, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Our audit of the consolidated financial statements does not relieve you or management of your responsibilities. Our responsibility is to plan and perform the audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and to design the audit to obtain reasonable, rather than absolute, assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit of consolidated financial statements includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the District’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we considered the District’s internal control solely for the purposes of determining our audit procedures and not to provide assurance concerning such internal control. We are also responsible for communicating significant matters related to the financial statement audit that, in our professional judgment, are relevant to your responsibilities in overseeing the financial reporting process. However, we are not required to design procedures for the purpose of identifying other matters to communicate to you. PLANNED SCOPE AND TIMING OF THE AUDIT We performed the audit according to the planned scope and timing previously communicated to you in the engagement letter. 2 SIGNIFICANT AUDIT FINDINGS Qualitative Aspects of Accounting Practices Management is responsible for the selection and use of appropriate accounting policies. The significant accounting policies used by the District are described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. No new accounting policies were adopted and there were no changes in the application of existing policies during 2017. We noted no transactions entered into by the District during the year for which there is a lack of authoritative guidance or consensus. There are no significant transactions that have been recognized in the financial statements in a different period than when the transaction occurred. Significant Accounting Estimates Accounting estimates are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements prepared by management and are based on management’s knowledge and experience about past and current events and assumptions about future events. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to the consolidated financial statements and because of the possibility that future events affecting them may differ significantly from those expected. The most sensitive estimates affecting the consolidated financial statements were: Unbilled Revenue – Unbilled revenue is a measure of revenue earned through the end of the reporting period that has yet to be billed. This generally represents accounts with billing cycles that start in the reporting year and end in the subsequent year. We have evaluated the key factors and assumptions used to develop unbilled revenue in determining that it is reasonable in relation to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – The allowance for doubtful accounts represents an estimate of the amount of accounts receivable that will not be collected. We have evaluated the key factors and assumptions used to develop the allowance in determining that it is reasonable in relation to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. Recovery Periods for the Cost of Plant – This represents the depreciation of plant assets. Management’s estimate of the recovery periods for the cost of plant is based on regulatory- prescribed depreciation recovery periods. We have evaluated the key factors and assumptions used to develop the recovery periods in determining that they are reasonable in relation to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. Other Post-Employment Benefit Obligations – This represents the amount of annual expenses recognized for post-employment benefits. The amount is actuarially determined with management input. We have evaluated the key factors and assumptions used to develop the annual expenses in determining that it is reasonable in relation to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. 3 Pension Liability and Related Pension Expense – This represents the amount of annual expense recognized for pensions and the related pension asset or liability. The amount is actuarially determined, with CalPERS management input. We have evaluated the key factors and assumptions used to develop the annual expense in determining that it is reasonable in relation to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. Valuation of Investments – This represents management’s estimate of the fair value of investments based on current market rates and conditions. We evaluated the key factors and assumptions used to develop the valuation of investments and determined that they are reasonable in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole. Financial Statement Disclosures The disclosures in the consolidated financial statements are consistent, clear and understandable. Certain financial statement disclosures may be particularly sensitive because of their significance to financial statement users. We did not note any disclosures in the financial statements which we consider sensitive to potential users. Significant Difficulties Encountered in Performing the Audit We encountered no significant difficulties in dealing with management in performing and completing our audit. Corrected and Uncorrected Misstatements Professional standards require us to accumulate all known and likely misstatements identified during the audit, other than those that are trivial, and communicate them to the appropriate level of management. No material misstatements, either individually or in the aggregate, were detected as a result of our audit procedures. Disagreements with Management For purposes of this letter, professional standards define a disagreement with management as a financial accounting, reporting, or auditing matter, whether or not resolved to our satisfaction, that could be significant to the consolidated financial statements or the auditor’s report. We are pleased to report that no such disagreements arose during the course of our audit. Management Representations We have requested certain representations from management that are included in the management representation letter dated May 25, 2018. 4 Management Consultation with Other Independent Accountants In some cases, management may decide to consult with other accountants about auditing and accounting matters, similar to obtaining a “second opinion” on certain situations. If a consultation involves application of an accounting principle to the District’s consolidated financial statements or a determination of the type of auditor’s opinion that may be expressed on those statements, our professional standards require the consulting accountant to check with us to determine that the consultant has all the relevant facts. To our knowledge, there were no such consultations with other accountants. Other Significant Audit Findings or Issues We generally discuss a variety of matters, including the application of accounting principles and auditing standards, with management each year prior to retention as the District’s auditors. However, these discussions occurred in the normal course of our professional relationship and our responses were not a condition to our retention. Communication of Internal Control Related Matters In planning and performing our audit of the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, we considered the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (internal control) as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances for the purpose of expressing our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control. Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control. A deficiency in internal control exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent, or detect and correct, misstatements on a timely basis. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the entity’s consolidated financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis. Our consideration of internal control was for the limited purpose described in the first paragraph and was not designed to identify all deficiencies in internal control that might be material weaknesses. Given these limitations, during our audit we did not identify any deficiencies in internal control that we consider to be material weaknesses. However, material weaknesses may exist that have not been identified. 5 Other Control Related Matters During the course of our audit, we became aware of matters that are opportunities for improving reporting in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, and strengthening internal controls and operating effectiveness, which are summarized below: Overhead rates applied We noted, through our review of overhead rates applied to work orders in 2017, the rate applied to work orders did not agree to the District’s approved overhead rate. We recommend an independent review of the overhead rate applied to ensure it is consistent with the District’s approved rate. Closing of work orders During our testing over closed work orders, we noted there was a delay in closing one of the work orders selected for testing, such that the work order reviewed was in service and should have been closed in 2016, however it was not closed until 2017. We recommend work orders be closed within approximately 60 days of the commercial operation date. ***** This information is intended solely for the use of Board of Directors and management of Truckee Donner Public Utility District and is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified parties. Portland, Oregon May 25, 2018