Appalachian Voices applauds introduction of legislation to increase public participation in Tennessee Valley Authority planning process
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2025
CONTACT
Dan Radmacher, Appalachian Voices, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., and Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., reintroduced legislation to improve the Tennessee Valley Authority’s long-term energy planning process. The TVA Increase Rate of Participation Act proposes changes to increase public participation in the federally owned utility’s integrated resource planning process, while also requiring the utility to take into account certain factors to ensure the plan will result in sustainable, reliable and affordable energy for people in the Tennessee Valley region.
The bipartisan bill comes as TVA’s most recent IRP was indefinitely delayed after President Donald Trump fired multiple TVA board members and left the board without a quorum in April. Five new TVA board nominees are now pending confirmation by the Senate. The TVA typically updates its long-term energy plan every four or five years, but TVA has not updated its IRP since 2019. This bill to increase the public’s role in energy planning in the Tennessee Valley comes as electricity demand forecasts are growing nationwide, federal actions are stymying renewable energy growth, and it’s becoming harder for many families to afford rising power bills.
“The Tennessee Valley Authority energy planning process is much less transparent than state-regulated utilities, which must allow for stakeholder input under independent oversight,” said Appalachian Voices Director of Public Power Campaigns Brianna Knisley. “Since President Trump’s actions have indefinitely delayed the most recent TVA IRP, ratepayers and impacted stakeholders are left even more in the dark about their energy future. Congressman Cohen and Burchett’s TVA IRP bill will not only make TVA more accountable to its customers and impacted communities, but it will also vastly improve the quality of the resulting plans. Public accountability is essential for a strong public power model.”
The legislation would establish an Office of Public Participation, which would be charged with directly engaging with the public and facilitating both public education and input into TVA matters. The bill would also require TVA to publicly release critical information, such as modeling assumptions and to collect feedback before a draft integrated resource plan is released. It further directs the Office of Public Participation to set a process for stakeholder intervention and discovery in the IRP.
“The delayed IRP, lack of board quorum, and change in leadership at TVA have resulted in unnecessary confusion and uncertainty for TVA’s 10 million customers,” said Chelsea Barnes, Director of Government Affairs and Strategy. “Congress must restore trust and accountability for the nation’s largest federally owned utility, and ensure that future energy planning is done with maximum public and expert input.”
Unlike most utilities, TVA is not regulated by a state utility commission. For-profit utilities and their regulators are required to get public input and host a formal proceeding in which anyone with cause — individuals, companies, nonprofits — can participate, request data and submit expert testimony to inform the regulator’s evidence-based decision. The TVA Board of Directors has largely taken a hands-off approach with the current IRP, including abstaining from holding a public hearing.
