H.R. 6357: TVA Increase Rate of Participation Act

The TVA Increase Rate of Participation Act aims to improve public engagement and transparency in the processes of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The key aspects of the bill include the following provisions:

Establishment of Office of Public Participation

The bill proposes the creation of an Office of Public Participation within the TVA. This office will have several responsibilities:

• Engage with the public to help them understand TVA's processes.
• Solicit broader public participation in TVA matters that affect the community.
• Provide information and technical assistance to the public on TVA proceedings.

Duties of the Office

Specific duties of this office will include:

• Acting as a liaison for public inquiries and offering ongoing process information.
• Coordinating with other TVA programs to enhance processes based on public feedback.
• Creating a process for public engagement in the integrated resource planning process, which must be established within one year of the bill's enactment.

Public Participation in Resource Planning

The bill mandates a process for public comment and participation in the integrated resource planning process.

• A public comment period will open 100 days before a draft integrated resource plan is released and will remain open until the completion of an evidentiary hearing.
• TVA must respond to requests for discovery from participants within 15 days of receipt.

Integration with Planning Processes

When drafting an integrated resource plan, the TVA Board will oversee public engagement and ensure that public input is included. Key requirements for the planning process include:

• Long-term forecasts of sales and demand under various scenarios.
• Summary of planned electrical transmission investments.
• Consideration of a range of technologies to meet service obligations.
• Evaluation of risks related to fuel costs and environmental regulations.
• Disclosure of modeling assumptions to the public before the draft plan is released.
• Details on how public input informed the plan.

Amendments to Existing Planning Requirements

The bill also amends existing requirements for TVA's planning program by adding factors such as resilience, extreme weather risk, and public health impacts to considerations for least-cost planning.

Goals of the Bill

The overall goal of the TVA Increase Rate of Participation Act is to create a more transparent and participatory process within the TVA, ensuring that community voices are heard and that public input is incorporated into decision-making processes regarding energy resource planning.

Relevant Companies

None found.