With winter coming, when electricity use is higher for heating as well as lighting and cooking, and with the national economy sluggish, it is certainly good news for many that the Tennessee Valley Authority is able to cut December "wholesale" electric rates by 5.5 percent.
That'll take them down to about the level that prevailed a couple of years ago.
The bills vary from home to home and business to business, of course, but "average" households will enjoy a cost reduction of about $5.50 in December.
TVA got into the electricity business in the late 1930s, by installing generators at its dams to produce electricity as a "by-product" of its flood control, navigation and conservation operations. The "wholesale" TVA electricity is distributed by local "retail" services, such as our EPB (formerly known as the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga).
When electricity demands in our area exceeded hydro production, coal-burning steam plants, nuclear and natural gas generation facilities were added over the years, to assure plenty of electricity.
Still, rainfall feeding area rivers is important in providing generation at TVA dams. There has been plenty of rain this year, so TVA can pass along cost benefits.
With Christmas coming, every little bit helps.
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