TN Rep. drafts resolution aimed at TVA’s handling of winter weather

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A Davidson County Representative has presented a House resolution that targets the Tennessee Valley Authority’s handling of extreme weather and its effect on Tennesseans’ access to electricity.

Tennessee House Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville drafted a resolution that requests the TVA be better prepared for impending winter weather by addressing energy issues beforehand. The state was subject to rolling power blackouts over Christmas weekend as the TVA attempted to relieve the stress on the state’s power grid during an abrupt drop in temperatures.

HJR-0135 demands more accountability from TVA and applies pressure on the agency to improve its operations to avoid future blackouts:

Rep. Powell filed the resolution for introduction on Jan. 31 and the House Business & Utilities Subcommittee recommended it for approval on Tuesday, February 14.

Another bill, HB1494, would require certain utility providers to refund, reimburse or provide rebates against future billing to customers who experience an extended interruption or loss, or a permanent loss, of a vital utility service.

TVA released a statement concerning the bill:

“TVA is conducting a comprehensive review to understand what happened and why, and actions we can take in the near, medium, and long-term to be better positioned to respond to extreme events in the future. As part of this effort, we are:

• Engaging industry experts and customers for input and feedback
• Incorporating independent review through our Blue Ribbon Panel
• Sharing results of this review and progress as part of our commitment to transparency

TVA is relentlessly focused on continuous improvement and to taking the time needed to get this right. We want to know every lesson that can be learned and are already taking preventative, proactive steps to improve. Since the storm, TVA employees identified and completed over 200 near-term actions to improve resilience and performance in advance of the next event.”

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