Energy efficiency initiatives by TVA and local power distributors reduced electric power consumption by 559 GWh in fiscal year 2011 — a 270 percent improvement in power savings over last year.

"I believe these results signal a new era for energy efficiency in the Tennessee Valley that will help make TVA's vision of a cleaner energy future a reality for our region," said Bob Balzar, TVA vice president of Energy Efficiency and Demand Response. "TVA's energy efficiency team worked hard to achieve these results. We wouldn't have accomplished this without strong support from local power distributors and direct serve industrial customers, as well as participation from consumers, businesses, and industry."

TVA's energy efficiency programs have reduced the region's electricity use by 765 gigawatt-hours over the last two years, conserving enough energy to power 50,000 area households for an entire year. One gigawatt-hour equals the power used to burn a single 100-watt light bulb for 10 million hours.

TVA has identified increased energy efficiency as crucial to achieving its cleaner energy vision for the future.

Last month, TVA's progress in increasing energy efficiency was recognized by The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy in its recently released 2011 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. The scorecard named Tennessee and Alabama as among the nation's most improved states when it comes to energy efficiency.

TVA's energy efficiency results count only those energy reductions that can be verified as resulting from energy efficiency programs administered by TVA and power distributor partners. TVA uses nationally accepted energy efficiency measurement criteria that control for external factors, such as economic conditions and population growth, which could influence overall energy use. TVA's results are also third partyverified for accuracy.

"An energy efficiency improvement like this one is no accident," said Balzar. "It's the result of careful planning and close cooperation with power distributors, TVA's energy efficiency partners, and energy efficiency stakeholders from the Tennessee Valley."

Energy efficiency cuts emissions by reducing the need for new power plants that would otherwise be built to meet demand. TVA also helps pay private contractors to recommend and install efficiency upgrades in residences and businesses, which creates jobs.

TVA's EnergyRight Solutions suite of energy efficiency programs is available for homes, businesses and industries throughout the Tennessee Valley. To find out about these or other TVA energy efficiency programs, visit TVA's energy efficiency website at http://www.energyright.com/.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.