The TVA headquarters building is located in downtown Chattanooga.BY THE NUMBERS
$1.19 — Average savings on a typical residential electricity bill in Chattanooga next month due to latest 1 percent cut in TVA’s fuel cost adjustment for September.$8.91 — Average increase in the typical residential electricity bill in Chattanooga compared with a year ago due to the 6.3 percent cumulative increase in monthly fuel cost and EPB rate changes in the past year$149.37 — Average residential electricity bill for a homeowner using 1,460 kilowatt-hours in September.Under 5 percent — TVA’s tentative plans for an increase in base rates for fiscal 2012.Sources: Tennessee Valley Authority, EPB
Chattanoogans who sweated paying their electricity bills through the summer heat wave will get a reprieve next month when TVA reverses three months of increases and cuts the fuel portion of its bills.
But that rate relief could be short-lived. TVA directors are considering a rate increase that could boost electricity charges again in fiscal 2012.
After losing money over the past year because of the costs of tornado damage and plant shutdowns, TVA’s board is scheduled to vote Thursday on a new budget that could boost TVA rates again in October.
“My power bills are way up from last year, but my income isn’t,” said Curtis Barnes, an East Chattanooga resident who paid his EPB bill on Monday. “I’m struggling like a big dog now and I sure can’t afford to pay much more.”