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“We
believe that if TVA is to be a best-in-class company, we must
have a world-class workforce, whose knowledge and skills are sharply
honed through continuous learning. As winner of the Deming award,
TVA University is recognized nationally as a leader in providing
the resources and opportunities to make that happen.”
—Dr.
John Turner, TVA’s
Senior Vice President of Education, Training and Diversity
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 For
1997, Electric Light & Power ranked TVA as the largest generator of
electricity in the country for the third straight year. Among the 50
largest utility generators in the country, TVA was ranked the third
lowest in total operations and maintenance costs.
Electric
Light & Power also ranked Bull Run Fossil Plant No. 3 among the country’s
steam plants in heat rate, a measure of efficiency. John Sevier Fossil
Plant was ranked No. 17 on the list.
The
Gallatin Fossil Plant generated over 7,000 million kilowatt-hours of
electricity, the most generated by the plant since 1988 and the second
highest in the last 30 years.
In
both 1998 and 1999, TVA’s combustion turbine units generated more
electricity than in any year since 1978.
The
summer reliability of TVA’s fossil units was successfully improved
this year to meet the growing peak demand for power in the Valley. The
fossil system generated 34 million megawatt-hours during the 1999 summer
season, the most since the summer of 1995. Summer outage rates for the
Colbert and Johnsonville Fossil Plants were the lowest since 1990, and
for Widows Creek Fossil Plant summer outages have dropped by almost
40 percent in the last two years.
The
Economizer Transport Piping Team from Cumberland Fossil Plant was selected
as a finalist in the government division of the 1999 Rochester Institute
of Technology/USA Today Quality Cup competition. Team members Jerry
Ball and his son Daryl were honored for developing an innovative redesign
of a piping system. The previous system had been plagued by frequent
pipe failures. The new system, which reduced the failure rate by 95
percent, is saving more than $130,000 annually.
Construction
is under way on TVA’s first Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)
Facility at Paradise Fossil Plant Unit 2. By further reducing nitrogen
oxide emissions, the SCR facilities improve air quality and help reduce
ozone levels in Valley states. The Paradise SCR is scheduled for completion
in the year 2000.
TVA
continues to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from its fossil plants
to comply with requirements of the Clean Air Act. Low nitrogen oxide
burners and other nitrogen reduction methods have been installed on
41 coal-fired units. Modifications to three TVA cyclone units currently
reduce nitrogen oxide emissions through the use of over-fire air. Results
from tests performed at these units are being used in designing control
measures for TVA’s remaining cyclone units.
The
U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School awarded TVA University
the prestigious W. Edwards Deming Outstanding Training Award (see photo)
in recognition of TVAU’s innovative employee development and training
initiatives. TVAU was established in 1994 as the umbrella for all education
and training at TVA.
In
the area of Procurement, improvements over the past two years have reduced
TVA’s total-ownership costs for materials and services by more
than $100 million, as supply-chain employees have expanded their roles
beyond traditional administrative functions to better manage supply
contracts, reduce inventory, and lower total costs of procurement. Procurement
is consolidating its numerous computer purchasing systems into a single
program to further optimize inventory, improve overall efficiency, and
save an estimated $54 million over five years.
In
September 1999 Information Week magazine ranked TVA No. 1 among the
nation’s utility companies in using information technology to meet
business objectives. It also rated TVA No. 15 among the top 500 business
users of technology.
TVA
continued to work with Valley power distributors in preparation for
restructuring of the industry. A significant milestone was reached when
TVA and the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association (TVPPA), which
represents the distributors, agreed upon and submitted to Congress a
position paper on significant issues relating to deregulation and legislation
that will likely drive it. TVA is involved in ongoing development of
rate products and contract options to help local utilities remain successful
as the industry changes.
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