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The following is monthly budgeted cost and activity information for the four act

ID: 2468518 • Letter: T

Question

The following is monthly budgeted cost and activity information for the four activity centers in the billing department of Oregon Power Company:

Variable

Fixed

Cost Driver

$79,526

$168,000

3,400 labor hours

$9,612

$30,000

2,700 letters

$182,000

$87,000

2,600,000 lines

$9,460

$76,000

21,500 accounts


In September, actual costs and activity were as follows:

Total Costs

Driver Amount

$249,045

3,440 labor hours

$37,961

2,500 letters

$281,997

2,790,000 lines

$85,852

21,340 accounts


Required
Compute the flexible-budget variances for the following two activity cost items (round all answers to the nearest dollar and enter favorable variances as positive numbers and unfavorable variances as negative numbers):

1.Account billing    

2.Correspondence   

Activity Center

Variable

Fixed

Cost Driver

Account inquiry

$79,526

$168,000

3,400 labor hours

Correspondence

$9,612

$30,000

2,700 letters

Account billing

$182,000

$87,000

2,600,000 lines

Bill verification

$9,460

$76,000

21,500 accounts

Explanation / Answer

1. Account billing

Activity rate = Variable costs / Cost driver = $182,000/2,600,000 lines = $0.07 per line

Actual lines = 2,790,000 lines

Standard costs = Variable costs for actual lines + Fixed costs = ($0.07 * 2,790,000 lines) + $87,000 = $282,300

Actual costs = $281,997

Variance = Actual costs – Standard costs = $281,997 - $282,300 = $303 Favorable

2. Correspondence

Activity rate = Variable costs / Cost driver = $9,460/21,500 accounts = $0.44 per account

Actual accounts = 21,340 accounts

Standard costs = Variable costs for actual accounts + Fixed costs = ($0.44 * 21,340 accounts) + $76,000 = $85,389.60

Actual costs = $85,852

Variance = Actual costs – Standard costs = $85,852 - $85,389.60 = -$462.40 Unfavorable