TVA’s corporate citizenship embodies the spirit of helping people and communities fulfill their boldest dreams.

2003 Report to Communities

Message from the TVA Board

The people of the Tennessee Valley Authority enhance the quality of life in a seven-state region through their personal commitment to public service. The TVA Board is pleased to provide this report highlighting TVA’s many contributions to the people and communities of the Tennessee Valley.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider, whose mission integrates affordable, reliable power production with environmental stewardship and support for sustainable economic development. The spirit of corporate citizenship that is the bedrock of public power is reflected in TVA’s commitment to excellence in business performance and public service, and through this commitment TVA builds strong working relationships with communities throughout the region.

In this report, you will learn how TVA supports Valley communities through effective and innovative partnerships in the boardrooms and classrooms of the largest cities and smallest towns. TVA’s corporate citizenship may not always capture headlines, but it embodies the spirit of helping people and communities fulfill their boldest dreams.

Who we are

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider, steward of the natural resources defined by the nation’s fifth-largest river system, and a catalyst for economic growth in parts of seven southeastern states. For more than 70 years, TVA has been the benchmark for quality and innovation in the production and delivery of reliable, affordable electric power. TVA is world-renowned for its innovative approach to integrated resource management, in which all the natural resources of the Tennessee Valley are managed together for the greatest public good. Throughout its history TVA also has offered a comprehensive array of services designed to support economic development and job creation throughout its 80,000-square-mile service area. These diverse roles make TVA unique and reflect TVA’s commitment to public power.

What is public power? Public-power companies are consumer-owned utilities that deliver electric power to their customers at the lowest-possible cost. As a leader in public power, TVA focuses on providing good value to its customers rather than generating maximum profits for shareholders. Compared to investor-owned utilities, public-power companies like TVA offer not-for-profit rates, better responsiveness to local needs, and greater economic stimulus for the communities they serve.

The people of TVA are themselves a community of public-spirited individuals with strong ties to the cities and regions they serve. TVA employees share a dedication to positive values and "Winning Behaviors" that make TVA a more effective advocate for prosperous and dynamic communities. These values and behaviors enhance TVA’s community partnerships by encouraging new ideas, constructive feedback, and win-win solutions that benefit everyone.

Since 1932, the people of TVA have supported communities throughout the Tennessee Valley with world-class performance in energy, environmental stewardship, and economic development. Communities are the heart of the Valley, and TVA is proud to provide the people, resources, and services that keep Valley communities strong and vibrant.

Through its Partners in Education program, TVA helps area schools prepare students to meet the challenges of the future. The program includes more than 80 schools in the Tennessee Valley. TVA employees help with field trips, materials for projects, and other activities.

TVA employee volunteers joined with members of the University of Tennessee football team to help build a Habitat for Humanity house in 2003.

At Chattanooga’s annual Riverbend Festival, TVA employees provide entertainment and work as volunteers. On the TVA barge docked at the waterfront, festival-goers can obtain fingerprints of their children and learn how TVA manages the Tennessee River.