KNOXVILLE, Tenn.  – The Tennessee Valley Authority was selected as one of the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2023 ENERGY STAR Partners of the Year in Energy Efficiency for our Home Uplift program, which provides free home energy upgrades to income-eligible participants.

“For nearly 90 years, TVA has worked to make a positive impact on the communities we serve, and this award recognizes the efforts of our employees and partners who ensure the success of the Home Uplift program,” said Cindy Herron, TVA vice president, Energy Services and Programs. “A lower power bill is only the beginning because it helps participants have money for essentials like medicine, food, gas or school supplies.”

In 2018, TVA retooled its energy efficiency programs to focus on helping those struggling with heavy energy burden. Since then, TVA, participating local power companies and community partners have invested a combined $53 million in Home Uplift and upgraded over 4,500 homes at no cost to participants.  By upgrading homes with energy-efficient technologies and improvements, Home Uplift participants save an average of 25% on their monthly energy bills.

Herron said TVA is looking at "a significant expansion" of its energy efficiency programs in the near future. Unlike assistance in paying a power bill each month, Home Uplift focuses on making repairs that enable low-income households to meet their energy needs in the years to come. The average combined energy savings resulting from Home Uplift renovations is equal to the carbon dioxide equivalent of 754 metric tonnes, or more than 2 million pounds of coal.

Each year the ENERGY STAR program honors a group of businesses and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy achievements. More information here: energystar.gov/

“As we accelerate historic efforts to address climate change, public-private partnerships will be essential to realizing the scale of our ambition,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I applaud this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for working with EPA to deliver a clean energy future that saves American consumers and businesses money and creates jobs.”

TVA is a corporate agency of the United States, receiving no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation, and land management for the Tennessee River system, and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation. Learn more at Energy System of the Future.