July power bills will be lower, thanks to all the rain

Fuel portion of electric bills down 10 percent from year ago

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

photo Electric rates tile

As temperatures heat up, TVA is giving homeowners some relief with lower power rates on the fuel portion of their electric bills this month.

With rainfall this year up more than 12 inches above normal, the Tennessee Valley Authority is generating record levels of power from its cheapest source - the 29 hydroelectric dams on the Tennessee River and its tributaries. That means TVA's fuel portion of your power bill in July will be 10 percent below the year-ago level.

TVA said today that hydro generation is 138 percent of normal levels through the first half of the year. June was the second highest hydro generation in history for the month of June. February, 2013 set a record for hydro generation at TVA in February.

"This is unusual for July because historically the fuel costs go up with rising demand during the summer months," TVA spokesman Scott Brooks said.