Our Response to COVID-19

What is Impacted

  • Some visitor centers at TVA dams remain closed (see our Recreation page).
  • TVA personnel in administrative and support roles continue to work remotely and non-mission-critical travel is limited

What is NOT Impacted

  • Reliable electricity
  • River management, flood control and navigation
  • Project work, including the Boone Dam repair and projects with regulatory deadlines
  • General access to TVA lakes and the majority of TVA’s developed recreation areas, TVA trails and undeveloped lands
  • Managed campgrounds at TVA dams on Cherokee, Douglas (headwater and tailwater), Melton Hill, Pickwick and Watauga
  • Scheduled recreational flows on the Ocoee River to support commercial whitewater rafting and kayaking

Visitors are requested to follow public health guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Executive Order 13991 while enjoying public lands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Reliable Energy

Q. What is TVA doing during the pandemic?
A. Our priority is protecting employee and public health as we continue to provide reliable energy and other critical services to the region. We continue to follow our agency response plan and remain in touch with the CDC, other federal and state agencies, and local power companies and communities to ensure coordination.

Q. Will my power stay on during this period?
A. Yes, TVA employees are working hard to keep energy flowing to the region around the clock. Employees in some jobs are teleworking and others are onsite at locations across the Tennessee Valley to supply energy and manage the Tennessee River system. We have plans in place to ensure those vital missions continue.

Q. Will my power get turned off if I’m unable to pay my bill?
A. In our role as regulator, TVA is working with all 153 local power companies who provide electric power to nearly 10 million people across seven states. We are offering support and flexibility to ensure they are in the best position possible to address local conditions and the concerns of their members and customers. Please reach out directly to your local power company to determine what programs are available that may provide assistance during this difficult time.

Q. Will my bill go up because I’m home all day?
A. The cost of power isn’t changing because of the COVID-19 outbreak. In fact, TVA actually reduced the wholesale cost of power by 2.5% beginning in October 2020 to help. The biggest factor in your energy bill is how much energy you use, and being home more could change your energy use. Raising your thermostat by as little as one or two degrees in warm weather (and lowering it by one or two degrees in the winter) will help keep your bill lower than it would be otherwise. TVA power rates are among the lowest in the nation, and we encourage people to make their homes and businesses as energy efficient as they can, so their bills aren’t higher than necessary. TVA and many local power companies offer programs to help consumers use energy wisely. See energyright.com for information and energy-saving tips.

Recreation

Q. Are TVA lakes and recreation areas open?
A. Yes, TVA's lakes remain open along with our developed recreation areas and nearly 290,000 acres of other public lands. Some TVA visitor centers at dams remain closed (see our Recreation page). Visitors are requested to follow public health guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Executive Order 13991 while enjoying public lands.

Q. Can I still go out on TVA public land?
A. Yes! We do encourage you to follow public health guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Executive Order 13991 while enjoying public lands. Also, follow the guidance provided the Leave No Trace environmental education program. TVA visitor centers at dams remain closed, so plan accordingly.

Health & Safety

Q. Did TVA have a plan for this type of event?
A. Like all utilities, TVA has extensive plans in place for dealing with any type of event that could interfere with our mission of service. That does include infectious diseases, like COVID-19. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve been carefully monitoring how the COVID-19 outbreak has been developing and adjusting our plans to be ready for this specific issue. We will continue to adapt our plans to be ready for whatever the future may bring us.

Q. What is TVA doing to prevent the spread of coronavirus?
A. Our overriding priority is the health and safety of our employees and the public. We remain focused on efforts to help slow the spread of disease and prevent major impacts to the vital services we provide. We are following CDC recommendations and working to be consistent with local health organization requirements in localized high outbreak areas.

As part of our company-wide response plan, we are taking a number of actions. These include encouraging employees with potential symptoms to stay home, increasing physical distancing through telework for administrative and support personnel, implementing health checks for employees reporting to work, and limiting travel.

Q. Will any of these practices change if the spread of COVID-19 increases?
A. We are closely following COVID-19 levels, and we will continue to follow the guidance from the CDC and take actions in line with CDC guidelines and our company-wide response plan. This includes necessary precautions to keep our employees and the public safe. Throughout this situation, you have our commitment that we will do everything we can to continue supplying reliable, low-cost energy for the nearly 10 million people we serve, while protecting employee and public health and safety.

Suppliers and Contractors

Q. Will there be a delay if I have a scheduled delivery to make to TVA? Any special requirements for suppliers or contractors?
A. Please see the TVA Coronavirus Update on our Supplier Connection web page for the latest information about Coronavirus impact on suppliers and contractors. If you have a specific question about your particular contract, please contact your TVA contract manager.

Projects

Q. Is work on the Boone Dam Project continuing?
A. Yes, our project work is continuing at Boone Dam. The safety of our workers and the public continue to be our top priorities. We are keeping workers safe by maintaining physical distancing, deep cleaning and practicing good hygiene. Those workers not directly involved in construction are teleworking.

General

Q. Will TVA still be conducting public comment periods on various issues?
A. Yes, we will continue to use the NEPA process while making decisions, and we count on public input. Draft and Final Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements will continue to be posted on our website. Our public comment process will remain in place as well. We encourage your engagement in this process and appreciate your input. If you have questions about our process, each document on the website includes our contact information.

Q. What are the symptoms associated with COVID-19?
A. Common signs of infection are a combination of fever, dry cough and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. To learn more and stay current with the latest COVID-19 guidance, visit one of these special websites developed by the federal government:

Q. What precautions are recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
A. Recommendations in the CDC guidelines include physical distancing, coughing and sneezing etiquette, hand hygiene, routine cleaning of surfaces, and avoiding exposure to those who are ill. To learn more and stay current with the latest COVID-19 guidance, visit one of these special websites developed by the federal government: