REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING AND ON
COMPLIANCE AND OTHER MATTERS BASED ON AN AUDIT OF FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS
Independent Auditor’s Report
Board of Directors
Valley Clean Energy Alliance
We have audited, in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States, the financial statements of Valley Clean Energy Alliance (VCE), which comprise the statement of financial position as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021, and the related statements of activities, functional expenses, and cash flows for the six months and year ended, respectively, and the related notes to the financial statements, and have issued our report thereon dated April 7, 2022.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements, we considered VCE’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 financial statements, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of VCE’s internal control. Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of VCE’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 financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected on a timely basis. A significant deficiency is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control that is less severe than a material weakness, yet important enough to merit attention by those charged with governance.
Our consideration of internal control over financial reporting was for the limited purpose described in the first paragraph of this section and was not designed to identify all deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting that might be material weaknesses or significant deficiencies and therefore, material weaknesses or significant deficiencies may exist that have not been identified. We did identify certain deficiencies in internal control, described in the accompanying schedule of findings, that we consider to be a material weakness. See finding 2021-01, Closing Entries. 459
Compliance and Other Matters
As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether VCE’s financial statements are free from material misstatement, we performed tests of its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements, noncompliance with which could have a direct and material effect on the financial statements. However, providing an opinion on compliance with those provisions was not an objective of our audit and, accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. The results of our tests disclosed instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards, and which are described in the accompanying schedule of findings as item 2021-01.
Valley Clean Energy Alliance’s Response to Findings
Valley Clean Energy Alliance’s response to the findings identified in our audit are described in the accompanying schedule of findings. VCE’s response was not subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the financial statements and, accordingly, we express no opinion on it.
Purpose of this Report
The purpose of this report is solely to describe the scope of our testing of internal control and compliance and the result of that testing, and not to provide an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control or on compliance. This report is an integral part of an audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards in considering the entity’s internal control and compliance. Accordingly, this communication is not suitable for any other purpose.
James Marta & Company LLO
Certified Public Accountants
Sacramento, California
April 7, 2022
460
ATTACHMENT I: SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS
2021-01 Closing Entries
Observation
During the course of our audit, we identified three adjustments that needed to be posted which were material to the overall financial statements. See Attachment II, entries numbered 1, 3, 4, and 7. The material portions of the entries were related to the proper recording of receivables and revenues at December 31, 2021. The auditor identified entries number 1, 3, and 4 during the course of the audit and discussed with management, who approved them for posting into the general ledger. Based on differences we identified in cash, management researched and identified entry number 7 at the end of our audit. Since these adjustments were not identified by Valley Clean Energy Alliance as part of their standard closing procedures, they may indicate a deficiency in the internal control process over financial reporting.
Recommendation
We recommend that management set up a process in place for the timely review and approval of the cash, accounts receivable, and revenue reconciliations. This will help to identify and correct any possible errors and inconsistencies in a timely manner.
Management Response
Management agrees with the entries as discussed with the auditors. Coming out of the previous audit (FY2020-21), management identified areas for process improvements to specifically identify, address, and prevent findings such as those included in the entries in future reporting periods. Management notes that due to the unique and one-time shortened 6-month time-period for the current audit that is associated with VCE’s transition to a fiscal year aligned with the calendar year, the improvements noted above have not yet been fully implemented. Management has also discussed and agreed with its partners engaged in the process to address the improvements needed. Management expects the process improvements to be included in the March accounting close period. They will be maintained from that point forward. 461
ATTACHMENT II: ADJUSTING JOURNAL ENTRIES
Adjusting Journal Entries
13710-0000 BILLED REVENUES 178,329
22210-0000 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE 84,195
45370-0000 BANKING FEES 1
26310-0000 RETAINED EARNINGS - UNRESERVED 84,195
26310-0000 RETAINED EARNINGS - UNRESERVED 178,329
26310-0000 RETAINED EARNINGS - UNRESERVED 1
Total 262,525 262,525
23040-0000 ACCRUED COST OF ELECTRICITY 870,000
41510-0000 POWER PURCHASES 6,038
14520-0000 RESERVE ADEQUACY 876,038
Total 876,038 876,038
13710-0000 BILLED REVENUES 260,934
30120-0000 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL SALES 260,934
Total 260,934 260,934
30110-0000 RESIDENTIAL SALES 104,658
30120-0000 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL SALES 156,988
13725-0000 NEM RECEIVABLE 162,609
23020-0000 NEM CREDITS 99,037
Total 261,646 261,646
13120-0000 CASH - LOCKBOX 300,000
30110-0000 RESIDENTIAL SALES 191,176
30120-0000 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL SALES 127,450
13120-0000 CASH - LOCKBOX 318,626
13150-0000 CASH - ICS MM 300,000
Total 618,626 618,626
Adjusting Journal Entries JE # 7
PBC entry to correct Lockbox and ICS cash accouts.
Adjusting Journal Entries JE # 1
Adjusting Journal Entries JE # 4
Auditor entry to adjust NEM receivables and payables to Aging report.
Auditor entry to agree Equity to PY audit for AJEs not posted by client and for rounding variance.
Adjusting Journal Entries JE # 2
PBC entry to correct Prepaids and Accrued Cost of Electricity balances at year-end.
Adjusting Journal Entries JE # 3
Auditor entry to agree Billed Revenues to AR Aging.
462