TVA's Proposed Transmission Project

On Thursday, Aug. 2, TVA is hosting an open house in Southaven for public comments on plans for a proposed transmission project in the Memphis area.

The proposed project consists of 2.7 miles of new double-circuit transmission line and other system improvements which would diversify the power flow and increase power reliability to the Memphis metro area. The project runs along the Mississippi and Tennessee state lines.

TVA Open House

• Thursday, Aug. 2
• 3 – 7 p.m.
• Comfort Suites – Magnolia Room, 7075 Moore Drive, Southaven

MLGW awarded solar generation project through TVA Distributed Solar Solutions pilot

(May 9, 2017) – MLGW has been awarded a solar generation project through the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Distributed Solar Solutions pilot program. In a competitive process that included 13 applications from local power companies throughout the Tennessee Valley, MLGW's project was one of seven selected.

The project at Nike’s facility will produce solar power with panels similar to these at Agricenter International. At two MW, the new installation will be twice the size of that at the Agricenter.

The project includes the installation and operation of a two megawatt direct current solar array, which will be built at Nike Inc.’s North America Logistics Campus in Frayser. No MLGW funds will be utilized for the project, which will interconnect to MLGW’s electric distribution grid.

Nashville-based Silicon Ranch Corporation will fund, build, own and operate the system. Silicon Ranch is the largest developer, owner and operator of solar facilities based in the TVA service area.

“MLGW is pleased to collaborate with NIKE and Silicon Ranch in the construction of a large solar array in Memphis,” stated Jerry Collins Jr., MLGW president and CEO. “This project demonstrates the benefits of public-private partnerships to meet growing interest in renewable power options. We are excited to take a leadership role in increasing the amount of green energy in the region.”

The solar array is expected to generate approximately 3.7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, or enough to meet the annual needs of 242 average households. Solar power from the array will be sold to TVA under a 20-year power purchase agreement, while Nike will receive the Renewable Energy Credits, the intangible environmental benefits associated with green power generation.

Although the timeline has not been finalized, the project is expected to start generating solar power in summer of 2018.

“As long-term owners of our projects, Silicon Ranch takes great pride in being excellent neighbors and active members in each community we serve,” said Matt Kisber, Silicon Ranch president and CEO. “We especially love working in our home state and are grateful for the partnership we’ve developed with MLGW, TVA and Nike. Each of these organizations deserves tremendous credit for their commitment to bring the economic, environmental and community benefits of solar energy to west Tennessee.”

In developing the Distributed Solar Solutions program, TVA partnered with the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, an association of 155 local power companies in the TVA system. TVA and TVPPA leadership, as well as representatives from two local power companies in the region, reviewed proposals and selected the winning projects.

"We are pleased to see the strong DSS interest because it allows TVA to partner directly with local power companies and developers to bring renewable energy to the Valley at the community level," said Tammy Bramlett, TVA's director of business development and renewables. "TVA remains committed to providing clean, efficient renewable energy to reduce our carbon footprint and help protect the environment."

eScore Self-Audit + $10 Home Depot Gift Card

Complete the eScore Self Audit and receive a $10 Home Depot gift card with your free energy kit!

What is an eScore Self Audit?

This online home evaluation is a do-it-yourself tool that allows you to take an active role in saving energy in your home or apartment. This simple tool assesses your home energy use then provides a customized report on how to decrease your electric bill by becoming more energy efficient.  

What exactly do I get?
Each qualifying household receives the home evaluation report and the energy savings kit that contains CFLs, filter whistle, water flow monitors, and other items to help begin saving energy. The special promotional kit will also include a $10 Home Depot gift card*! Qualifying participants will receive their kit and gift card within 4 to 6 weeks.
How Do I participate?

1. Go to https://selfaudit.2escore.com  and click the “Let’s Begin” button.
2. Enter your contact information and select your local power company from the drop down box.
3. Complete the online evaluation of your home.

The Small Print:

• eScore Self Audit is available to customers living in participating local power company areas.
• Must complete TVA’s Online Home Evaluation between 7/16/2015 – 9/30/2015 to receive the $10 Home Depot gift card.
• *One kit and gift card per household.

With expected cold temperatures tonight, MLGW and TVA ask customers to conserve

Wednesday night could mark the coldest temperatures in Memphis and Shelby County in more than a year. While the Tennessee Valley Authority’s electric system remains stable, the peak demand will be high Wednesday night and into Thursday.

MLGW is encouraging customers to take the following steps to conserve energy:

• Open the blinds on the south side of your home during sunny days, but keep the blinds closed on cloudy days and at night.

• Postpone using electric appliances such as dishwashers, dryers and cooking equipment during peak power use times early in the morning and early in the evening.

• Turn off nonessential lights, appliances, electronics and other electrical equipment.

• Set your thermostat at 68° or lower when you're home.

• At bedtime, lower your thermostat and add extra blankets.

• Lower or turn off thermostat when leaving your home for four hours or more.

“MLGW customers taking these steps will help reduce the demand on TVA’s electric system, as well as help lower their bills. It’s a winning formula for everyone,” said MLGW President & CEO Jerry Collins, Jr.

More energy-saving tips can be found at mlgw.com.

TVA has issued a Power Supply Alert for MLGW Customers

A Power Supply Alert has been issued for all customers in the Tennessee Valley, which includes all MLGW customers. Due to an arctic cold front moving through our service area today with temperatures falling into the teens, TVA asks that all customers reduce any non-essential electricity use during peak hours today. Peak hours begin at 5 p.m.

Customers can reduce their power consumption and lower their utility bills by:

• Turning down the thermostat (for customers with electric heating). Lowering the temperature just one degree can result in a savings of up to four percent.

• Delay using electric appliances such as dishwashers, electric dryers and electric cooking appliances.

• Turn off non-essential lights, appliances and electronics. To stay warm, customers are reminded to bundle up while inside and outside.

While inside, customers can:

• Wear layered clothing and thick socks to keep warm.

• Close garage doors, cover foundation vents, and close off vents and doors to seldom-used rooms.

• Place rolled-up towels inside against bottom of exterior doors and window sills to block cold air from coming inside.

MLGW is also reducing its own power use in all of its facilities by reducing lighting and taking other steps to reduce overall electricity consumption.

TVA Readies for Cold Temperatures; You Can Help

Frigid temperatures are causing high demand for electricity across the Southeastern United States. As a result, the Tennessee Valley Authority is asking all electric power consumers, including residential, commercial and industrial customers, to voluntarily reduce their use of electricity until Friday afternoon.

Any reductions in electricity use can help ensure a continued supply of power to essential services throughout TVA’s seven-state service territory and avoid interruptions of service. All available generating resources are being used to meet the peak power demand.

TVA’s bulk electric system remains secure and stable at this time.

“When it’s below 20 degrees, each time the temperature drops one degree another 400 megawatts of electricity is needed. That’s almost as much as one of our larger hydroelectric dams,” said Tim Ponseti, vice president of TVA Transmission Operations and Power Supply. “Setting your thermostat two to three degrees below normal this evening and Friday morning can really help TVA manage the high power demand during this challenging time.”

Today’s peak power demand is expected to occur this evening when regional temperatures are forecast to drop into single digits and electricity demand is projected to exceed 31,000 megawatts. Another peak demand will occur Friday morning when electric loads are expected to peak around 33,000 megawatts. In comparison, demand was just below 32,500 megawatts during the height of the cold wave on Jan. 7, 2014.

Extremely cold weather is expected through early next week. This prolonged cold period will result in higher electricity use than experienced in early January. Consumers can reduce their power consumption and lower their power bills by:

• Turning down the thermostat. Lowering the temperature just one degree can result in a savings of up to 3 percent.

• Postpone using electric appliances, such as dishwashers, dryers and cooking equipment.

• Turn off nonessential lights, appliances, electronics and other electrical equipment.

Additional tips for saving on your power bill and reducing electric demand can be found on TVA’s EnergyRight Solutions website.

TVA and the region’s 155 local power companies also are cutting back power use in their facilities by lowering thermostats, reducing lighting and taking other steps to reduce electricity consumption.

On Monday, TVA issued an internal "Conservative Operation Alert," which delays any non-emergency maintenance activities at its generation and transmission facilities to minimize risks to the power supply. As a further precaution, TVA has initiated a "Power Supply Alert," which notes that demand could reach a level where an unexpected shutdown of a large generating unit or transmission system interchange could reduce TVA's power supply reserves.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.

What's your eScore? Find out!

eScore® is an exciting new Pilot Program developed through a partnership between MLGW and TVA. eScore provides homeowners with a simple way to make existing homes as energy-efficient as possible. Through the use of contractor-performed installations, instant rebates and expert recommendations, any home may reach the highest possible score of 10!

The eScore Pilot Program is currently an exclusive offer to residential customers with electric or gas service provided by MLGW.

Access is easy. Simply sign up for eScore and get started! An in-home evaluation is not required prior to making qualified energy efficiency improvements.

Here’s How It Works:

• Homeowner visits the eScore customer portal, completes a short online registration and receives a unique customer ID.

• Homeowner decides what home improvement(s) to do first.

• Homeowner contacts one or more QCN members and schedules a time to get an estimate
for potential work. The QCN member list is provided on the eScore customer portal under the “Find Contractors” link.

• Homeowner provides the unique customer ID to the QCN member and agrees to have the work inspected at a later date.

• QCN member performs the qualified energy efficiency improvements, and the homeowner
receives the instant rebates on the invoice. The rebate is shown as a line item on the customer’s invoice. No extra paperwork!

• Once the work is completed, the Customer Contact Center will contact the customer to schedule an inspection at the home to ensure the qualified energy efficiency improvement was installed properly (if applicable). During the inspection, an eScore evaluation will be performed on the home at no additional cost. Additional energy improvements for future consideration may be identified during this evaluation.

• Homeowner receives their home eScore at the time of the inspection.

An eScore evaluation includes:
• An eScore card, which ranks the home from 1 to 10 (10 being best).

• A detailed eScore report, which contains:

– A customized list of recommended energy efficiency improvements that, if implemented, will make the home as energy efficient as possible.

– A list of instant rebates for all qualified energy efficiency improvements.

– Photos of the areas evaluated.

• Instant energy saving fixtures installed at the time of home visit (for example, CFLs, low-flow shower heads, and faucet aerators).

• Expert consultation from the energy evaluator

Homeowners may have an eScore evaluation performed on the home before improvements are made for a non-refundable fee of $75.

Program restrictions apply:

• Home must be a single family dwelling.

• Home must have had permanent electric service for a minimum of one year.

• Although eScore is designed for repeat participation, limitations on individual improvements exist.

• TVA’s Residential Program Administrator performs all energy evaluations.

• Self-installed improvements are not permitted.

TVA settlement funds to help Tennessee's energy efficiency

More than $26 million in TVA settlement funds will help the state buy electric cars and rework several buildings to reduce energy costs and air pollution.

A new Clean Tennessee Energy Grant Program, also, is available to local governments, businesses and other groups for amounts of up to $250,000.

“Increasing energy efficiency in state government will help us be even better stewards of both taxpayer dollars and our environment,” Gov. Bill Haslam said in an emailed announcement Wednesday.

Read the full story here.

Free Community Outreach Forum for TVA's Green Power Switch Program

We are co-hosting a free community outreach forum Friday, November 18, 2011 at the MLGW auditorium from 8:30 to 3:00. The Tennessee Renewable Energy Economic Development Council (TREEDC) is the other co-host for the forum as part of an ongoing series helping to promote TVA's Green Power Switch Program.

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell and Memphis Mayor AC Wharton will deliver opening remarks.

MLGW CEO Jerry Collins is the keynote speaker and will participate in the effort to encourage Memphis area citizens and businesses to invest in clean energy generation by TVA. Presentations will be given by representatives from Memphis Bioworks, FedEx, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the University of Memphis, Gibson County Utilities, Tennessee Tech University and 49 Green. TREEDC is a statewide grassroots coalition of 65 city and county mayors promoting the economic development and environmental benefits of renewable energy for all communities in Tennessee.

TREEDC was formed by the University of Tennessee President Emeritus Dr. Joe Johnson , four mayors and a small engineering firm out of Knoxville, TN. Councilman Edmund Ford Jr. is an advisory board member and helps coordinate federal and state clean energy initiatives on behalf of the City of Memphis. Other members of TREEDC include Memphis Light Gas & Water, Tennessee Valley Authority, USDA Rural Development and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The forum will be limited to 75 seats, and attendees can register by e-mailing treedc08@yahoo.com. For additional information go to www.treedc.us

Revamped EnergyRight Website

The Tennessee Valley Authority has unveiled a redesigned website for tips and information about how consumers can conserve energy whether at home, at a business or in an industry.

The utility said in a news release Tuesday that the EnergyRight Solutions website has a simpler layout, more information and easier navigation. TVA supplies power to about 9 million people in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.

Bob Balzar, TVA vice president of energy efficiency and demand response, said the website represents a new direction for energy efficiency at TVA and one of several new steps they are planning to make efficiency more accessible.

The website address is www.EnergyRight.com

$100 Discount on Energy Evaluations

If high summer energy bills are causing your money to fly out the window, now’s the time for an In Home Energy Evaluation from your local power company and TVA.

But hurry. For a limited time only, the Home Energy Evaluation fee has been drastically reduced. That’s right. You can save $100 on the cost of the home assessment.

You’ll save energy and money.

For details, call 1-866-441-1430 or visit energyright.com for more information.

TVA to retire 18 coal-fired units as part of settlement agreement with EPA

From the Knox News Sentinel...

TVA will retire 18 coal-fired units at three of its older fossil plants, effectively closing one of the plants, in an unprecedented agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency, four states and three environmental groups to settle complaints that the federal utility violated the Clean Air Act.

TVA's board of directors met in Chattanooga on Wednesday and approved the shutdown of two units at the John Sevier plant near Rogersville, Tenn., six at Widows Creek in North Alabama and all 10 units at the Johnsonville plant in Middle Tennessee.

The permanent shutdowns, called retirements, will take place in phases through 2017 and will affect 300 to 400 workers, said Bill McCollum, TVA chief operating officer.

Through retirement, transfers and other measures, TVA will seek to limit the actual loss of jobs, McCollum said.

"Our goal is to minimize the effect of this on employees and have opportunities for those folks who want to stay with TVA to have employment somewhere in the TVA system," he said.

Tom Kilgore, TVA president and CEO, noted the coal units are being retired and not idled as TVA announced in August it would do with six of eight units at Widows Creek, two units at John Sevier, and one at the Shawnee plant in West Paducah, Ky. Idling a unit means it can be brought back on line. Retiring a unit means TVA is giving up the permit for the unit and would have to reapply to operate it again, Kilgore said.

"These units are among the first built by TVA and have served us well over the years. But as times change, TVA must adapt to meet future challenges," Kilgore said.

The combined idled and retired units will reduce TVA's coal-fired capacity by 2,700 megawatts out of a total 17,000 megawatts generated by the country's largest public utility.

TVA said the lost energy capacity will be replaced with low-emission or zero-emission electricity sources, including renewable energy, natural gas, nuclear power and energy efficiency.

The move to retire coal units is part of the settlement of legal claims against TVA by the EPA; the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina; the Sierra Club; National Parks Conservation Association; and Our Children's Earth Foundation involving emissions from TVA plants. Anda Ray, TVA senior vice president of environment and technology, said the settlement clears all past claims the groups had against TVA and will allow TVA to operate its remaining fossil fleet with more legal certainty.

TVA board member Mike Duncan cast the one dissenting vote against the settlement and shutdown of coal-fired units. He questioned the constitutionality of losing the units as part of the settlement and said the shutdowns will limit TVA's power options.

"I think the settlement is going to be very expensive and will take away flexibility in our resources when we need more flexiblity," Duncan said.

The settlement drew strong criticism from U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr., who blasted the EPA and TVA. The Republican from Knoxville said the agreement will result in higher power rates for TVA customers.

"I think this settlement is ridiculous. I think the EPA has gone power mad. I am disappointed that TVA caved in to these demands. This settlement will drive up utility bills for people in Tennessee and the surrounding states and hurt poor and lower income people the most. I assume this deal came about because the money is not coming out of the pockets of the elitists who reached it," the lawmaker said.

According to the EPA, when fully implemented, the pollution controls and other required actions will address 92 percent of TVA's coal-fired power plant capacity, reducing emissions of nitrogen oxide by 69 percent and sulfur dioxide by 67 percent from the federal utility's 2008 emissions levels.

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said the settlement will require TVA to spend an estimated $3 billion to $5 billion on new and upgraded pollution controls and also invest $350 million on clean energy projects to reduce pollution, save energy and protect public health and the environment.

"This agreement will save lives and prevent billions of dollars in health costs. Modernizing these plants and encouraging clean energy innovation means better health protections and greater economic opportunities for the people living near TVA facilities," Jackson said in a statement.

"Investments in pollution control equipment will keep hundreds of thousands of tons of harmful pollutants out of the air we breathe, and help create green job opportunities that will reduce pollution and improve energy efficiency."

As part of the settlement, TVA will pay the National Park Service and National Forest Service $1 million to rehabilitate forest and park lands affected by TVA emissions, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park.

TVA also will pay a civil penalty of $10 million, with Alabama and Kentucky receiving $500,000 each and Tennessee receiving $1 million.

During its meeting, TVA's board also unanimously approved its Integrated Resource Plan, meant to help TVA match its energy resources with potential power demand and economy scenarios over the next 20 years. The plan calls for a shift away from use of coal and more reliance on nuclear energy, natural gas, renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and demand response measures.

In other action, the board heard reports from McCollum on TVA efforts to learn from the nuclear crisis in Fukushima, Japan, and apply lessons to its own nuclear fleet. The board voted to delay a decision on proceeding with construction of a reactor at Bellefonte in Alabama until TVA had a clear understanding of events in Japan and could incorporate lessons learned from that in the construction at Bellefonte.

The board also voted to re-elect Dennis Bottorff as chairman and elect Bill Sansom vice chairman.

Settlement terms

Based on TVA's landmark settlement with the EPA, the federal utility is:

-- Retiring 18 coal-fired units

-- Losing 300 to 400 jobs

-- Investing $3 billion to $5 billion on pollution controls

-- Investing $350 million on clean energy projects

-- Paying $1 million to the National Park Service and the National Forest
Service

-- Paying a civil penalty of $10 million

Do you have a TVA energy kit yet?

Do you have a TVA energy kit yet? What are you waiting for? The only thing you have to do is complete a do-it-yourself energy audit through one of the channels described below:


There are several methods through which customers can qualify for their free energy kit:

1. Customers who register for My Account at www.mlgw.com , login and complete the "Home Profile" and "My Appliances" question sets under the "Home Energy Center" tab will automatically receive a kit at their home address within 2-3 weeks. This is the PREFERRED METHOD as it utilizes the customer's actual billing history and MLGW rates to provide their report and recommendations. (Process takes less than 10 minutes.)

2. Customers who complete the energy right audit atwww.energyright.com will automatically receive a kit at their home address within 2-3 weeks. However, this method does not use billing history or local rates, so it is an inferior approach that will produce less accurate information in their report.

3. Customers without Internet access can request a printed energy audit form, complete and return it. They will receive their report and kit through the mail (perhaps in separate deliveries) with 2-3 weeks. Again, this method does not use billing history or local rates, so it is an inferior approach that will produce less accurate information in their report. Customers can request a printed audit form by calling Residential Services at 528-4188.

The free TVA kit contains:

* Compact fluorescent bulb
* Filter whistle that sounds when the HVAC system filter is 80 percent clogged and needs to be changed
* Outlet and light switch gaskets - insulation to help stop drafts and save energy
* Faucet aerators (two) - water-saving filters that improve efficiency
* Hot water temperature card that measures temperature of hot tap water and indicates if thermostat adjustment is needed to save money and prevent water scalds
* Energy use thermometer gauge that helps check energy costs for heating and cooling.

Research in summer 2008 found that, based on actions customers took after they completed the online tools and received their kits, the average household would reduce electricity use by ~ 1,700 kWh. That's about $120 annually--so it pays to participate!

TVA debating new nuclear reactor

From today's Tennessean...

TVA to review Japan situation while debating new nuclear reactor

The TVA board has been poised to discuss whether to pay billions to build a new nuclear reactor, and now its members will have Japan's nuclear breakdown to consider when they meet next month.

"We will have a comprehensive review of what lessons are coming out of this situation in Japan and implications for TVA," said Dennis Bottorff, chairman of the board and managing general partner in a Nashville venture capital firm.

There may not be any conclusions about exactly what went wrong in Japan by the time of the April 14 meeting, but one immediate concern is that three of Tennessee Valley Authority's existing reactors are largely the same design as those affected by Friday's earthquake in Japan.

The three reactors at TVA's Browns Ferry site, which lies about 100 miles south of Nashville, are a 1970s-era General Electric boiling water design similar to the Japanese reactors. They are among 35 boiling water-type reactors in the U.S.

"We're all closely watching the events in Japan and monitoring the things happening there with an eye to learning lessons that we may incorporate into our operations," Bill McCollum, TVA's chief operating officer, said Tuesday.

"Right now there's a lot of information, some of which may turn out with time to be correct and some not correct. We've got to work through that."

TVA has two other plants that have pressurized water reactors, a different design than the damaged GE boiling water reactors in Japan. Most commercial reactors in the U.S, about 70, are pressurized water reactors,

TVA's Watts Bar plant, which is 60 miles southwest of Knoxville, has one of these reactors, and a second one is under construction there.

At TVA's Sequoyah plant, 18 miles northeast of Chattanooga, there are two such reactors.

The pressurized water reactors at these plants differ from the boiling water reactors in that the steam to run the turbine is produced in a steam generator.

Water in the GE-designed reactors at the Japanese plant and at Browns Ferry boils inside a pressure vessel, and a steam-water mixture is produced. Steam eventually goes to a turbine generator to create electricity.

McCollum said he did not know the detailed differences between the GE boiling water reactor at the Browns Ferry plant and the Japanese reactors, but he said that is being researched.

It appeared that at least one of the Japanese reactors doesn't include some of the circulating and cooling pumps found at Browns Ferry.

Pools can be problem

Another issue in Japan is possible problems with the used fuel pools, where highly radioactive rods of old fuel typically are left for several years. U.S. plants have such pools, too.

At TVA, the old fuel is moved out of the pools after a few years and put into dry casks for long-term storage.

"Our plants are designed, built and operated safely, and we have equipment and procedures and personnel in place to maintain the safety of our plants," McCollum said.

He said they are built to withstand slightly more than the size of an earthquake that might be expected at their particular locations. The TVA nuclear sites are all along the Tennessee River.

TVA is considering completing a new reactor at a cost of up to $4 billion at its Bellefonte site near Hollywood, Ala., which is about 110 miles southeast of Nashville.

Construction began on the plant in the 1970s and halted in the 1980s.

April Rate Decrease

For billing periods beginning April 1, 2011, TVA's total monthly fuel cost will change from 2.464 cents per kilowatt-hour to 2.376 cents per kilowatt-hour due to a change in the way TVA calculates its monthly fuel cost adjustment.

The 1.2 percent decrease will result in residential customers seeing a decrease of a little less than $1(compared to March) on their utility bills.

Effective with these April billings, TVA is changing its fuel cost adjustments each month to recover all of its monthly fuel cost, not just the variance from what the utility projected in its base rates.

TVA says 6 reactors not in earthquake-prone region

TVA says 6 reactors not in earthquake-prone region

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee Valley Authority executives say the utility's six reactors in East Tennessee and North Alabama are in areas "not prone to frequent or extremely large earthquakes" and have numerous safety features.

TVA has two reactors at its Sequoyah Nuclear Plant near Chattanooga, one reactor and another under construction at Watts Bar in Spring City and three at its Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant at Athens, Ala.

A TVA statement says its reactors are designed, built and operated to withstand an earthquake of larger magnitude than any recorded in the region.

The plants are built with safety systems to ensure safe shutdown in any event similar to the earthquake in Japan.

The TVA statement Sunday also expressed deep sorrow over loss of life and damage to property during the earthquake in Japan.

In other news, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who has urged the United States to build 100 more nuclear reactors, said that the meltdown at the Fukushima plant in Japan shouldn't lead America to foreclose future nuclear plants.

Read full story here.

TVA's New Rate Structure

TVA has announced it will change its retail base rate structure to reflect seasonal usage, starting with the April 2011 billing period. For MLGW residential customers, the change will have a minimal impact on overall customer bills.

The change will enable TVA to more accurately reflect fluctuating electricity costs on a seasonal basis. Under the new rate structure, TVA defines seasonal periods as Summer (June, July, August and September); Winter (December, January, February and March); and Transition (April, May, October and November.)

Retail rates will be slightly lower in transition months. However, during the winter and summer months, when electricity costs are at their highest, rates will be slightly higher.

On an annual basis, the seasonal rate structure will produce no additional revenues for MLGW or TVA, though customers will benefit from pricing signals that could lead to more efficient usage during peak periods.

In-Home Energy Evaluations Help!

Great story in the Commercial Appeal about the TVA In-Home Energy Evaluation Program...

Energy audit pays off for Mud Island homeowners

When Betsy and Thad Howard moved to Memphis in 2004, they downsized and upsized at the same time. They bought a smaller house, but it came with a higher utility bill.

They knew that their new home, a three-bedroom, two-story house on Mud Island, could be improved for greater energy efficiency, but unlike their former home in Durham, N.C., they found that green building practices were few and far between.

"We thought that there wasn't as much of a culture here of doing energy-efficient building and we didn't know the trade people here, so we didn't know anyone who did these things," Betsy said.

But the numbers were unavoidable. In Durham, a bad month for utilities brought a bill of around $200. Here, an average winter month cost them more than $300.

This year the Howards got serious about becoming more energy-efficient.

The couple participated in the Tennessee Valley Authority's In-Home Energy Evaluation Program, which included a comprehensive inspection of their home, an audit of their current energy usage and physical improvements to their home.

They started by getting educated. Betsy contacted TVA and set up a class on energy saving for First Congregational Church in Midtown. The Howards co-chair the church's green committee. There they learned about IHEE and late last year, they started the process.

Betsy worked for the Environmental Protection Agency for 20 years before the move, studying air quality issues, so some of the issues in the home were obvious to her.

All of the windows on the north side of the home are single-pane because they were meant to be decorative. Entries to the house for the dryer vent and other pipes and hoses were made too big and not well-sealed.

They called the number listed on TVA's Web site and, through Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division, were connected to a TVA representative who scheduled their inspection with Scott Little of Conservation Service Group.

"We walked through the house with him and he showed us things and educated us," Betsy said.

The results of the inspection were eye-opening.

The 20-year-old, 2,000-square-foot home had at least 25 square feet of completely uninsulated attic space.

Their crown molding was not sealed to the wallboard, allowing heated air to be siphoned through the cracks above and below, up into the attic.

Their heating and air conditioning unit was sealed with tape instead of mastic, a putty-like substance which hardens into cement around the duct connections.

After the audit, the Howards received a report detailing the changes needed, along with the estimated costs for improvement and energy savings so they could set priorities for their projects. The windows, they decided, would have to wait for now.

On Feb. 11, Betsy's birthday, a slew of TVA-approved contractors arrived with cases of caulk and blown insulation and started to work. Fortunately, some of the projects were fairly simple.

The gas line in their fireplace was sealed with a fire-proof mortar. Loose ceiling supply registers were screwed tightly in place so that the air flows into the room, not between walls and floors. A wooden box cover was installed on top of the pull-down attic staircase to keep it from sucking heat up through it like a chimney.

"The contractors don't get their money until TVA inspects their work and says you've done quality work," said Thad, who works for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "They're going to make sure that they do it right."

TVA spokesman Mike Bradley said the program, which started in May 2009, is taking off, albeit slowly. A total of 4,631 in-home evaluations have been conducted across TVA's seven-state service area, 3,737 in Tennessee. Seventy-four power distributors have signed on.

"We're hoping for more (participants), and the program is still evolving," Bradley said.

Bradley said there is a separate weatherization program aimed at the less affluent and funded by federal stimulus money to do much of the same kinds of work. TVA is training auditors for the program.

But the IHEE is not without its financial benefits. As part of the program, the Howards paid $150 for the audit, which is refundable by TVA. Also TVA will pay them up to $500 for the first $1,000 they spend on improvements. Essentially, they will receive $650 back.

The Howards may also qualify for a tax credit, good through 2010, of as much as $1,500 for approved materials at up to 30 percent of the cost.

The Howards haven't completed a billing cycle since the work in their home was finished, but Betsy says she can already tell that the house is warmer and less drafty.

"When I take a nap I don't have to crawl under as many blankets," Betsy said. "I'm not wearing as many sweaters. I think when it will really pay off the most is this summer because our upstairs air conditioner couldn't handle it."

"With all these incentives, it was like if we don't do it now, why bother?" said Thad.

For information, go to TVA In-Home Energy Evaluation Program.

TVA in the News

TVA considers switching from coal to gas in Memphis
By Wayne Risher

Originally published 11:49 a.m., October 28, 2010
Updated 10:00 p.m., October 28, 2010

TVA is looking at whether to idle the 51-year-old coal-fired Allen Fossil Plant and replace it with a facility that uses clean-burning natural gas.

TVA officials have gotten permission from the Memphis and Shelby County Port Commission to do soil testing on 73 acres near the Allen plant in southwest Memphis.

They also told port officials that the utility would need an option to buy or lease the site and arrange for temporary use of adjoining acreage for construction staging, if necessary.

TVA's new unit services staff is weighing construction of a natural gas plant versus installing scrubbers to clean up emissions from the coal-fired plant, spokeswoman Jennifer Stone said.

The decision, which would require approval by the TVA board, will be based on economic and environmental considerations, as well as generation needs and reliability.

Stone emphasized the study is in an early stage and that no decision is expected before next spring. TVA's target for completing a new plant or retrofitting the old one is 2015, to meet anticipated clean air requirements, she said.

Although a gas-fired plant would have fewer permanent employees, 30-40 people compared to Allen's 160 or so, either alternative would involve hundreds of millions in construction spending, creating numerous jobs.

TVA spent $474 million on the recently opened Lagoon Creek gas-fired plant near Brownsville and has projected an $820 million tab for a natural gas plant in East Tennessee.

One design under study for Memphis carries a price estimate of $700 million.

Jerry Collins, president of Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division, TVA's largest customer, said, "We have been working hand in hand with TVA on this project.

"The important thing is the power will be generated in Shelby County. Certainly TVA has some challenges with its older coal-fired plants, and there's currently an abundance of natural gas in the U.S."

"It's an economic issue, and TVA has to look at the economics and make a decision that best benefits its customers, and I believe TVA will do that," Collins said.

Allen, built by MLGW in the 1950s, then sold to TVA in the 1980s, has peak output of 753 megawatts, which can supply more than half of Memphis' electricity.

A switch from coal to natural gas would be a boon for the environment, but it would take a bite out of the port's commodity totals. Natural gas would be delivered by pipeline.

Barges brought 2.9 million tons of coal to the port to supply the Allen plant in 2008, making it the No. 2 commodity behind petroleum, port interim executive director Randy Richardson said.

"The benefit of the new (gas-fired) plant would be more so to the whole community, particularly, in my opinion, in terms of air quality," Richardson said.

TVA has installed scrubbers to remove sulfur dioxide from emissions at several coal-fired plants, Stone said.

Another environmental issue is disposal of fly ash, the waste left after coal is burned. Ash from Allen Fossil Plant is stored in containment basins adjoining the plant, and some of it has been used to build up low-lying land in Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park.

The EPA is considering new regulations on disposal of fly ash in response to concerns of environmental groups.

Lower Costs Coming Your Way

Due to the fuel cost adjustment passed by TVA for November, our residential customers will see a decrease of approximately $4.13 (as compared to October).

From TVA's site:

For billing periods beginning November 1, 2010, TVA's fuel cost adjustment will change from the current amount of 1.127 cents per kilowatt-hour to 0.735 cents per kilowatt-hour.

For September, lower fuel and purchased power prices helped to offset sales that were higher than forecast and hydro generation that was lower than forecast. Higher September temperatures contributed to sales that were 6 percent higher than TVA's forecast. Hydro generation was 31 percent lower than forecast and had to be replaced with higher cost resources. The good news was coal, purchased power, and gas prices were 12 percent below the forecast, causing the decrease in the fuel cost adjustment.