A Guide to Information About The Tennessee Valley Authority

Revised April 2006

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This guide is to help members of the public who are seeking information about TVA. It offers a variety of TVA sources for information such as annual and quarterly reports, bond offerings, energy services, lake levels, library services, mapping products and services, general inquiries, and more.

This guide also tells you how to access TVA’s Government Information Locator Service.

Information of a more specialized nature may be available through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. To find out how to obtain and access information and records from TVA through a FOIA request, see the FOIA Request page. Also, see the FOIA section at the end of this document.

If you don’t find the information you’re looking for, please see the “General Inquiry” entry in Descriptions of Information Sources Within TVA and let us know the nature of your interest and how we might help you.

Some General Questions

What is TVA?

TVA is a wholly owned federal corporation of the United States, established in 1933 by the U.S. Congress primarily to develop and manage the resources of the Tennessee Valley region. Today, TVA is the nation’s largest producer of electric power, serving 61 directly served customers and 158 power distributors that provide electricity to about 8.6 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA is also a regional economic development agency and a steward of the Tennessee River basin.

What kind of information is available from TVA?

Information available from TVA includes material on the following topics:

• TVA dams and power plants
• Production of electric power
• Flood control
• River navigation on the Tennessee River and tributary streams
• Land and water management
• Economic development in the Tennessee Valley region
• Environmental research
• TVA financial information
• Recreation on TVA-managed lands and lakes
• TVA employment

Does TVA have a Web page?

Yes. The address for TVA’s Web page is http://www.tva.gov.

What are some examples of information requests frequently received by TVA?

• Journalists and writers can call the TVA News Desk at 865-632-6000 for the latest information about a developing story involving TVA.
• Investors and others in need of TVA-related financial information, including annual and quarterly reports and information about TVA bonds and notes can call 888-882-4975 (toll-free) or 888-882-4967 (international), or send an email to investor@tva.com. They can also access TVA’s Investor Resources Web page at http://www.tva.gov/finance.
• Current information about TVA lake levels, stream flow and rainfall is available by phone at 865-632-6065 and on the Web at http://www.tva.gov/river/lakeinfo.
• For more information about these topics, as well as other information TVA can provide, see the Descriptions of Information Sources Within TVA section of this guide. It will tell you how and where to find most of the types of information TVA can help you with.

If I’m still not sure who to call . . .

If you’re still unsure how to find the information you need, you can ask a TVA operator for assistance by calling one of the following numbers:
In Knoxville, Tennessee: 865-632-2101
In Chattanooga, Tennessee: 423-751-0011
In Muscle Shoals, Alabama: 256-386-2601

Or you can email TVA at tvainfo@tva.gov with a description of what you need.

How can I get a copy of this guide?

Printed copies of this Guide to Information About the Tennessee Valley Authority are available from Denise Smith, TVA’s FOIA Officer, by phone at 865-632-6945, by fax at 865-632-6901, or by email at foia@tva.gov.

Information sources within TVA

For more about the information sources listed below, see the next section: Descriptions of Information Sources Within TVA. Also, see the Freedom of Information Act section at the end of this guide.

Contracting Information
Employment
Energy Services (TVA’s energy right Web page)
Environmental Services
Financial
Government Information Locator Service (GILS)
Lake Information Line
Library
Maps
Media Inquiries
Power Programs
Reading Room
Recreation Area Schedule for TVA Lakes
Regional Natural Heritage Project
Surplus Material
Shoreline Property/TVA Land
Worldwide Web Homepage for TVA

Descriptions of Information Sources Within TVA

Contracting Information

Vendors with active TVA contracts or interest in new TVA contracting opportunities can call TVA’s Procurement organization at 865-632-4700 or send an email to vendor2@tva.gov.

Employment

Information about employment at TVA is available on the Web at http://www.tva.gov/employment.

You’ll find information on the following employment-related topics:

• Current employment opportunities
• TVA’s technical training programs
• How to apply
• Employee benefits
• Work locations
• The Tennessee Valley

To apply for a position that is currently available, apply on-line at http://www.tva.gov/employment.

Energy Services (TVA’s energy right web page)

Information about the energy right program, developed by TVA and local power companies, can be found on the Web at http://www.energyright.com. The site includes information about energy-efficient all-electric homes, home energy-savings tips, and comparisons of home energy costs. It also features direct lines to many of TVA’s local power company partners.

Environmental Services

Information about TVA environmental services is available on the Web at http://www.tva.gov/environment/envservices/index.htm. You can find out about the following programs: Specialized Environmental Services, Integrated Resource Management Services, and Environmental Information Management Services.

Financial

Financial information about TVA, including financial reports, TVA corporate governance, investment opportunities, and more is available on the Web at http://www.tva.gov/finance. Requests also can be emailed to investor@tva.com.

You can also write or phone TVA’s Investor Relations organization:

TVA Treasury/Investor Relations
400 W. Summit Hill Drive, WT 4C
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902
888-882-4975 (toll-free)
888-882-4967 (international)

Government Information Locator Service (GILS)

The Government Information Locator Service is a way to identify, locate, and describe publicly available federal information resources, including electronic resources.

GILS records identify public information resources within the federal government, describe the information available from these resources, and assist you in obtaining the information. GILS is a decentralized collection of agency-based information locators that employ network technology and international standards to direct users to relevant information resources within the federal government.

The GILS page on TVA’s web site is at http://www.tva.gov/gils/tvagils.htm.

Lake Information Line

TVA offers a 24-hour automated information service on lake levels, tributary flows, and expected water releases from TVA dams.

This service is available at the following number to anyone using a touch-tone phone:

In Knoxville, Tennessee: 865-632-2264
In Chattanooga, Tennessee: 423-751-2264
In Muscle Shoals, Alabama: 256-386-2264
Elsewhere in the Tennessee Valley, call toll-free 800-238-2264.

The information also is available on the Web at http://www.tva.gov/river/lakeinfo.

For printed instructions on how to use TVA’s Lake Information Line, call 865-632-6065 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.

TVA Research Library

Reference services are provided to further the business activities of TVA. TVA employees have first priority for research services provided by the library staff. However, every reasonable effort will be made to satisfy TVA customer requests promptly, accurately, and in confidence.

To promote goodwill and a greater understanding of the importance of TVA to local and regional areas and the nation, research services are provided to non-TVA customers. The library staff will provide direction to facilitate the use of library materials.

A wide array of informational resources are available. For further information, contact the Chattanooga, Knoxville, or Muscle Shoals libraries.

TVA Research Library
1101 Market St., LP 4A
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: 423-751-4913
Fax: 423-751-4914
Monday through Friday – 8:00 to 4:45

TVA Research Library
400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT CC
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902
Phone: 865-632-3464
Fax: 865-632-4475
Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Librarian on Duty: Days vary
Please call 865-632-7865, 8:00 a.m to 4:45 p.m.

TVA Research Library
P.O. Box 1010, CTR 1E
Muscle Shoals, AL 35662
Phone: 256-386-2872
Fax: 256-386-2453
Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:15p.m.
Librarian on Duty: Tuesday & Thursday,
8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

All locations closed on federal holidays.

Maps & Photos

Information about TVA maps and map-related material is available on the Web at http://maps.tva.com.

TVA’s Map Store is the central repository for the agency’s mapping program. It provides not only current map-related material and data but also historical records that include topographic mapping, aerial photography, cadastral maps, geodetic control data, and much more.

For more information, use the electronic address given above or contact the store by mail, phone or fax:

TVA Map & Photo Records
1101 Market Street, MR 5E
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2801
Phone: 423-751-MAPS (423-751-6277) or
1-800-MAPS-TVA (1-800-627-7882)
Fax: 423-499-6319
TDD/TTY: 423-751-8500
Email: maps2@tva.com

Media Inquiries

Journalists who need help with a story about TVA can call the TVA News Desk at 865-632-6000.

Power Programs

Information about TVA’s power programs is available on the Web at http://www.tva.gov/power.

TVA operates 11 fossil-fuel plants, six combustion-turbine plants, three nuclear plants, 29 hydroelectric dams, a pumped-storage hydropower plant, and 18 green power sites that employ wind turbines, methane gas, and solar panels. Together, these plants provide a generating capacity of 33,981 megawatts of power. TVA provides power to 158 municipal and cooperative power distributors, and it directly serves 61 federal and industrial customers through a network of some 17,000 miles of transmission lines. Its power-service area covers about 80,000 square miles in the southeastern United States, and it supplies the energy needs of over eight million people.

Recreation Area Schedule for TVA Lakes

Information about opening and closing dates of TVA-managed recreation sites is available on the Web at http://www.tva.gov/river/recreation.

Regional Natural Heritage Project

Information about the TVA Regional Natural Heritage Project can be found on the Web at http://www.tva.gov/environment/land/habitat.htm.

With the help and support of The Nature Conservancy, TVA initiated the nation’s first regional-heritage effort in June 1976. The project focuses on 201 counties encompassing portions of the seven states (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia) that make up the TVA power service area and watershed.

The purpose of the project is to help identify and protect the diversity of plant and animal life in the Tennessee Valley region and to maintain an inventory of endangered, threatened, and rare plants and animals; sensitive geological features and natural areas; and other sensitive natural-resource features.

Information can also be requested by letter, phone or fax:

TVA Regional Natural Heritage Project
Tennessee Valley Authority
400 W. Summit Hill Drive, WT 11C
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-1499
Phone: 865-632-2414

Surplus Material

For general information about TVA surplus material, including upcoming auctions, and such items as heavy equipment and furniture, go to http://www.tva.gov/surplus or send an email to surplussales@tva.gov.

Shoreline Property/TVA Land

Information about TVA-managed shoreline property and TVA land – including the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the TVA Watershed Team offices to contact for questions or information – is available on the Web at http://www.tva.gov/river/landandshore/index.htm.

Worldwide Web home page for TVA

You can find TVA’s home page on the Web at http://www.tva.gov.

TVA’s home page offers most of the information provided here, as well as much more, including a corporate overview, a brief history of TVA, recent news releases, and speeches by TVA Board members.

Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides any person with the right of access to TVA records. A request, however, must meet the following criteria before TVA can take action:

• It must be submitted in writing.
• It must state that the request is being made pursuant to the FOIA.
• It must reasonably describe the records requested.
• It must state the requester’s willingness to pay fees, or request a waiver of fees.

Fee Categories: For fee purposes, the FOIA requires that requesters be placed in one of the following categories. Please specify the fee category into which you feel your request falls:

• Commercial use (requester pays search, review, and reproduction fees)
• News media, educational institution, or noncommercial scientific institution (requester pays reproduction fees; first 100 pages provided at no cost)
• All others (requester pays search and reproduction fees; first two hours of search and 100 pages provided at no cost)

Some additional information may assist TVA in responding to your request. Please provide as much detail as possible in order to help TVA locate the requested records (e.g., file names, contract numbers, reference numbers and locations). Also, provide a name and telephone number so that TVA can contact you if more information about the request is needed.

Please address all FOIA requests to TVA’s FOIA Officer:

Denise Smith
Tennessee Valley Authority
400 W. Summit Hill Drive, WT 7D
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-1499
Phone: 865-632-6945
Fax: 865-632-6901

TVA’s FOIA regulations, located at 18 C.F.R. § 1301, are available on the TVA FOIA Web site at http://www.tva.gov/foia, at public libraries, or by request from TVA’s FOIA Officer.

Information about the Freedom of Information Act, including TVA’s FOIA Annual Report and information on TVA’s FOIA Requester Service Center, is also available on the TVA’s FOIA home page at http://www.tva.gov/foia or upon request from TVA’s FOIA Officer.

Send comments or questions about the TVA FOIA Web site to foia@tva.gov.