It`s time to sell the TVA

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Electricity Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S1040-6190(96)80187-4· OSTI ID:457105

Malec, W F

The electric power functions of the Tennessee Valley Authority should be sold now, in total, says a former top TVA executive - not because the agency can`t survive as is, but because doing so would produce a better result for TVA`s customers and employees, as well as U.S. taxpayers. It seems ironic to the author that while the U.S. generally encourages the spread of free enterprise, and as we are witnessing an unprecedented privatization of many formerly government-owned utility systems around the world, the U.S. government retains ownership of one of the largest electric companies in the U.S. and the world in the Tennessee Valley Authority. In many areas of the globe, privatization is moving with strong investment from U.S. firms and quasi-governmental institutions like the World Bank, yet our government won`t seriously consider selling the TVA. The author believes such a sale would be beneficial in many ways. It would generate big savings for the U.S. taxpayer. It would reduce the federal debt, and build on massive operating and financial progress made at TVA in the last seven years. It might also provide a model of how and why to privatize other parts of the federal government. At the same time it would move one of the largest electric companies in America out from under the burden of federal bureaucracy into the private sector, where the author believes it could compete effectively, without excuses or alibis.

• OSTI ID: 457105
• Journal Information: Electricity Journal, Journal Name: Electricity Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 9; ISSN ELEJE4; ISSN 1040-6190
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
COMMERCIAL SECTOR
COMMERCIALIZATION
MARKET
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY