Dear TVA board representatives,

Thank you for considering written comments from the public prior to TVA’s May 7th board meeting.

While this written input is important, ratepayers in the Tennessee Valley have a right to observe and provide meaningful public input to the TVA board, even during a pandemic. Because TVA has cancelled its usual public listening session, ratepayers cannot provide meaningful input. Local power companies have demonstrated that hearing ratepayer comments is still possible by offering virtual meeting participation during the COVID-19 pandemic. TVA can do this as well: there are several online platforms that would support hundreds or even thousands of participants in a virtual listening session. Please make the next TVA board meeting genuinely public by implementing a virtual listening session, and continue this practice for the entire duration of social distancing.

I also want to thank TVA for taking important steps to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by deploying the Community Care Fund and flexibility line of credit for local power companies. Unfortunately, these steps fall critically short of what local power companies, and therefore ratepayers, need from TVA during this economic and public health crisis.

Loss of electricity during this pandemic poses real, life threatening danger for Valley ratepayers. TVA must protect residents from electricity shut offs by reducing unnecessary financial burden on local power companies. Suspending the Grid Access Charge would go a long way to reduce costs for LPCs that are facing reduced energy sales during this unprecedented time. The Grid Access Charge places undue burden on low energy users and therefore should be suspended for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, TVA should temporarily reduce wholesale power costs for local power companies during the pandemic, given that LPCs absorbed 1.5% rate increases for five consecutive years under former CEO Bill Johnson. It is critical for TVA to ease back on debt reduction efforts during the pandemic by implementing these sensible measures.

Finally, given that TVA provides regulatory oversight of rates and service practices for local power companies, TVA should immediately issue a moratorium on residential electricity shutoffs for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. No ratepayer in the Valley should be without electricity during a global health crisis, regardless of their ability to pay. If residents are left unprotected from shutoffs, public health issues and economic impacts associated with the novel coronavirus will be exacerbated. Unfortunately, several of TVA’s local power companies have not implemented shut off moratoriums, and where these policies exist, most are set to expire in days or weeks. TVA can prevent inhumane electricity shut offs by supporting local power companies with cost reduction and by issuing a mandate that prohibits local power companies from shutting off services.

TVA’s inaction to stop disconnections stains the reputation of public power. With a mission to improve quality of life, provide affordable power and boost economic development in the Tennessee Valley, TVA has a moral obligation to their customers to take the steps requested above. I hope TVA will stand true to its original mission statement and provide all available support ratepayers in the Valley during these dark times.

Thank you for considering my comments.