Bill Overview
Title: TVA Reform and Consumer Protection Act
Description: This bill makes various changes related to the regulation and operation of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which provides low-cost electricity in seven southeastern states. For example, the bill (1) eliminates certain restrictions on the sale of power into and out of the Tennessee Valley, and (2) expands the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's oversight of rates and other aspects of the TVA's operations.
Sponsors: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Target Audience
Population: People using electricity from TVA in southeastern U.S.
Estimated Size: 10000000
- The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) operates in seven southeastern U.S. states including Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia, so residents and businesses in these areas will be directly affected.
- The expansion of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's oversight can lead to changes in rate structures, which potentially impacts costs for about 10 million TVA customers.
- Any changes in the operation and sale of power by the TVA can influence local economies, energy prices, and energy reliability in these regions.
- TVA primarily serves about 10 million people, so these individuals would be directly impacted by changes in how TVA is regulated.
Reasoning
- The TVA serves a significant portion of the southeastern U.S., so the policy will mainly impact people in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.
- The budget constraints ($50M in year 1 and $500M over 10 years) suggest that changes may be moderate rather than radical; thus, direct economic impacts on individuals might vary from low to medium, depending on their energy consumption and dependency.
- FERC's increased oversight may influence rates and service reliability, potentially leading to long-term benefits like more stable pricing or short-term disruptions due to restructuring.
- Cost savings from policy changes might not immediately translate to consumers but could mean long-term wellbeing improvements due to more stable energy supplies and costs.
- It's important to consider that some individuals, particularly those not dependent on TVA power, will see no impact.
Simulated Interviews
small business owner (Knoxville, TN)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy will help reduce our electricity bills, which are a significant part of our operational costs.
- I'm concerned about any immediate changes that might disrupt our service or increase costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
engineer (Huntsville, AL)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If the policy helps keep power costs down, it'll be great for my home office expenses.
- I think having more oversight is a good thing overall.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
retired (Richmond, VA)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone on a fixed income, any increase in electricity rates worries me.
- I hope this policy leads to more reliable service and stable costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
electrician (Tupelo, MS)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry how changes in TVA might affect my job security.
- The idea of expanded sales sounds beneficial for jobs but depends on how it's implemented.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
stay-at-home parent (Lexington, KY)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our electricity bills are a big concern. Any policy that can lower them is welcome.
- I hope such reforms don’t lead to temporary disruptions in service.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
factory worker (Charlotte, NC)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stable energy prices are critical for the factory where I work.
- Any oversight that keeps prices down and services reliable will directly affect my job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
freelance artist (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 36 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this reform helps stabilize my home electricity bills.
- Oversight might ensure more fairness in pricing which is needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
teacher (Chattanooga, TN)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reduced electricity costs could free up funds for educational purposes.
- I hope this leads to more consistent service throughout the year.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
graduate student (Birmingham, AL)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate any policy that might make my cost of living more manageable.
- Hope it's not just too much change without real benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
healthcare worker (Nashville, TN)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reliable electricity is crucial with the hours I work.
- I hope this policy doesn’t cause disruptions in service, even if it's meant for the better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 10: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Key Considerations
- Rate changes could lead to varying impacts on consumer electricity costs.
- The balance between increased administrative costs due to regulation versus potential savings from operational efficiencies needs monitoring.
- There is potential for conflicts between federal oversight and state interests.