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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
General, Fiscal Year, Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

TVA prepares its consolidated interim financial statements in conformity with GAAP for interim consolidated financial information. Accordingly, TVA's consolidated interim financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. As such, they should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2011, and the notes thereto, which are contained in TVA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011 (the “Annual Report”).

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of TVA and two variable interest entities, created in January 2012, of which TVA is the primary beneficiary. See Note 7. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of items of a normal recurring nature) considered necessary for fair presentation are included.


General

The Tennessee Valley Authority (“TVA”) is a corporate agency and instrumentality of the United States that was created in 1933 by legislation enacted by the United States (“U.S.”) Congress in response to a request by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  TVA was initially created to, among other things, improve navigation on the Tennessee River, reduce the damage from destructive flood waters within the Tennessee River system and downstream on the lower Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, further the economic development of TVA's service area in the southeastern United States, and sell the electricity generated at the facilities TVA operates.

Today, TVA operates the nation's largest public power system and supplies power in most of Tennessee, northern Alabama, northeastern Mississippi, and southwestern Kentucky and in portions of northern Georgia, western North Carolina, and southwestern Virginia to a population of over nine million people.

TVA also manages the Tennessee River, its tributaries, and certain shorelines to provide, among other things, year-round navigation, flood damage reduction, and affordable and reliable electricity.  Consistent with these primary purposes, TVA also manages the river system to provide recreational opportunities, adequate water supply, improved water quality, natural resource protection, and economic development.

The power program has historically been separate and distinct from the stewardship programs.  It is required to be self-supporting from power revenues and proceeds from power financings, such as proceeds from the issuance of bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness (“Bonds”).  Although TVA does not currently receive congressional appropriations, it is required to make annual payments to the U.S. Treasury in repayment of, and as a return on, the government's appropriation investment in TVA's power facilities (the "Power Program Appropriation Investment").  In the 1998 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, Congress directed TVA to fund essential stewardship activities related to its management of the Tennessee River system and nonpower or stewardship properties with power revenues in the event that there were insufficient appropriations or other available funds to pay for such activities in any fiscal year.  Congress has not provided any appropriations to TVA to fund such activities since 1999.  Consequently, during 2000, TVA began paying for essential stewardship activities primarily with power revenues, with the remainder funded with user fees and other forms of revenues derived in connection with those activities.  The activities related to stewardship properties do not meet the criteria of an operating segment under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").  Accordingly, these assets and properties are included as part of the power program, TVA's only operating segment.

Power rates are established by the TVA Board of Directors (“TVA Board”) as authorized by the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933, as amended, 16 U.S.C. §§ 831-831ee (as amended, the “TVA Act”).  The TVA Act requires TVA to charge rates for power that will produce gross revenues sufficient to provide funds for operation, maintenance, and administration of its power system; payments to states and counties in lieu of taxes ("tax equivalents”); debt service on outstanding indebtedness; payments to the U.S. Treasury in repayment of and as a return on the Power Program Appropriation Investment; and such additional margin as the TVA Board may consider desirable for investment in power system assets, retirement of outstanding Bonds in advance of maturity, additional reduction of the Power Program Appropriation Investment, and other purposes connected with TVA's power business.  In setting TVA's rates, the TVA Board is charged by the TVA Act to have due regard for the primary objectives of the TVA Act, including the objective that power shall be sold at rates as low as are feasible.  Rates set by the TVA Board are not subject to review or approval by any state or other federal regulatory body.

Fiscal Year

TVA's fiscal year ends September 30.  Years (2012, 2011, etc.) refer to TVA's fiscal years unless they are preceded by “CY,” in which case the references are to calendar years.
Cost-Based Regulation
Cost-Based Regulation

Since the TVA Board is authorized by the TVA Act to set rates for power sold to its customers, TVA is self regulated.  Additionally, TVA's regulated rates are designed to recover its costs of providing electricity.  In view of demand for electricity and the level of competition, TVA believes that rates, set at levels that will recover TVA's costs, can be charged and collected.  As a result of these factors, TVA records certain assets and liabilities that result from the regulated ratemaking process that would not be recorded under GAAP for non-regulated entities.  Regulatory assets generally represent incurred costs that have been deferred, because such costs are probable of future recovery in customer rates.  Regulatory liabilities generally represent obligations to make refunds to customers for previous collections for costs that are not likely to be incurred or deferral of gains that will be credited to customers in future periods.  TVA assesses whether the regulatory assets are probable of future recovery by considering factors such as applicable regulatory changes, potential legislation, and changes in technology.  Based on these assessments, TVA believes the existing regulatory assets are probable of recovery.  This determination reflects the current regulatory and political environment and is subject to change in the future.  If future recovery of regulatory assets ceases to be probable, or any of the other factors described above cease to be applicable, TVA would no longer be considered to be a regulated entity and would be required to write off these costs.  Most regulatory asset write-offs would be required to be recognized in earnings in the period in which future recovery ceases to be probable.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements requires TVA to estimate the effects of various matters that are inherently uncertain as of the date of the consolidated financial statements.  Although the consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP, TVA is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the amounts of revenues and expenses reported during the reporting period.  Each of these estimates varies in regard to the level of judgment involved and its potential impact on TVA's financial results.  Estimates are deemed critical either when a different estimate could have reasonably been used, or where changes in the estimate are reasonably likely to occur from period to period, and such use or change would materially impact TVA's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Reclassifications
Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2011 financial statements to conform to the 2012 presentation.  In the Cash flows from operating activities section of the Statements of Cash Flows, $75 million previously reported as changes in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities for the nine months ended June 30, 2011, was reclassified as Fuel cost tax equivalents, and $(24) million previously reported as changes in Inventories and other, net for the nine months ended June 30, 2011 was reclassified as changes in Margin cash collateral, net.

Sales of electricity for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2011, previously reported in the Statements of Operations as Sales of electricity to Municipalities and cooperatives of $2.3 billion and $7.2 billion, respectively, Industries directly served of $310 million and $1.1 billion, respectively, and Federal agencies and other of $31 million and $95 million, respectively, have been combined and reported as Sales of electricity of $2.6 billion and $8.4 billion, respectively.
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts

The allowance for uncollectible accounts reflects TVA's estimate of probable losses inherent in its accounts and loans receivable balances.  TVA determines the allowance based on known accounts, historical experience, and other currently available information including events such as customer bankruptcy and/or a customer failing to fulfill payment arrangements after 90 days.  It also reflects TVA's corporate credit department's assessment of the financial condition of customers and the credit quality of the receivables.
Depreciation
Depreciation

TVA determined depreciation rates based on a new depreciation study during the second quarter of 2012. Implementation of the new study, exclusive of the impact of idling decisions discussed below, resulted in a $2 million and a $3 million decrease in depreciation expense during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2012. It is expected to decrease depreciation expense an additional $2 million for the remainder of 2012, exclusive of the impact of the idling decisions below.

TVA has announced the idling of several of its coal-fired units. As a result, depreciation rates have been adjusted so that the coal-fired units to be idled will be fully depreciated by the applicable idle dates. TVA idled Johnsonville Fossil Plant (“Johnsonville”) Units 7, 8, 9 and 10 on March 1, 2012, and announced plans to idle Johnsonville Units 5 and 6 and Colbert Fossil Plant (“Colbert”) Unit 5 by October 1, 2012.  Additionally, two units at John Sevier Fossil Plant (“John Sevier”) will be retired by December 31, 2012, the remaining two units at John Sevier will be idled by December 31, 2012, and Johnsonville Units 1-4 will be retired by December 31, 2017. As a result of TVA's decision to idle or retire these 15 units, TVA recognized $100 million and $236 million in accelerated depreciation expense related to these units during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. TVA expects to recognize $100 million in accelerated depreciation for the remainder of 2012.