A Tennessee congressman is drafting a TVA accountability reform bill

A Tennessee congressman plans to introduce legislation to change how the Tennessee Valley Authority makes energy decisions. 

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-TN announced his intention during an informal “hearing” on the utility last week.

The bill would address TVA for its lack of public participation, accountability and transparency, such as how it calculates and publicizes the estimated costs of new energy sources or potential for sources like demand response programs and wind energy.

“They have no process for meaningful public input and Tennessee citizens — and all customers in the Valley for that matter — are being left out of the process,” Cohen said in video remarks. 

TVA serves at least 10 million people in seven states. The federal government-owned utility is one of the largest energy entities in the world, with 32 gigawatts of installed capacity. It has also planned more new fossil fuel generation than any other utility in the nation. 

This year, TVA will once again address how it will meet energy demand for the next two decades in what’s known as the Integrated Resources Plan. IRPs influence how the utility chooses energy sources and invests in energy conservation, efficiency and transmission. While planning new methane gas plants recently, for example, TVA has cited its 2019 IRP — the most recent edition. 

Energy decisions affect everyone in the region, but TVA only answers to TVA, according to Cohen, who said other utilities face some accountability from state-level public utility commissions or shareholders. 

“TVA does not have an answer to anyone about their IRP and will have the final say,” Cohen said. “My bill will ensure TVA considers factors such as resilience, extreme weather risks and impacts to public health.” 

The bill will be called the TVA Increased Rate of Participation Act. The congressman’s office has not shared when it will be introduced to Congress.