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Contingencies and Legal Proceedings Legal Proceedings (Details) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
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Jul. 31, 2013 Legal_actions | May. 31, 2013 | Apr. 30, 2011 Groups Agreements | Mar. 31, 2010 USD ($) People | Jun. 30, 2008 Legal_actions | Oct. 31, 2007 Legal_actions | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2010 Years | Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($) Units megawatts
Legal Proceedings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Possible additional future costs for compliance with Clean Air Act requirements |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 650,000,000 |  |
TDEC civil penalties related to Gallatin |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17,000 |  |
Plaintiff civil penalties related to Gallatin |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 37,500 |  |
Units Affected by Paradise Case |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |
Number of claims dismissed related to NPDES permit |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 |  |
Number of claims filed on Gallatin NPDES permit |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 |  |
Number of reactors a CCOLA was submitted for | Legal_actions |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |
General |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal Proceedings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal loss contingency accrual |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 99,000,000 |  |
Environmental Agreements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal Proceedings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of similar environmental agreements entered into | Agreements |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of environmental agreements entered into with the EPA | Agreements |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of environmental agreements entered into with Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee | Agreements |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of environmental agreements entered into with environmental advocacy groups | Groups |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of units to be idled | Units |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18
Megawatts | megawatts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,200
Megawatts option 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,500
Amount to be invested in certain TVA environmental projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 290,000,000
Amount to be provided to fund environmental projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60,000,000
Amount to pay civil penalties |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 10,000,000
Case Involving Tennessee Valley Authority Retirement System |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal Proceedings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of participants that filed suit | People |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |  |  |
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Contributions |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Retirement age of eligibility for cost of living adjustment before January 1, 2010 | Years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 55 |
Retirement age of eligibility for cost of living adjustment after January 1, 2010 | Years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60 |
Administrative Proceedings Regarding Sequoyah U1 and U2 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal Proceedings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contentions submitted by BREDL BEST and MATRR |  | 8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Opposed contentions |  | 8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of petitioners with standing | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of petitioners | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contentions dismissed | Legal_actions | 7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contentions left | Legal_actions | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Administrative Proceedings Regarding Bellefonte Units 3 and 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal Proceedings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of contentions left | Legal_actions |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |
Number of admitted contentions submitted by BREDL and SACE | Legal_actions |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |
Number of contentions submitted by BREDL and SACE | Legal_actions |  |  |  |  | 20 |  |  |  |
Number of contentions no longer admitted | Legal_actions |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |
Other Noncurrent Liabilities | General |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal Proceedings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal loss contingency accrual |  |  |  |  |  |  | 41,000,000 |  |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | General |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal Proceedings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal loss contingency accrual |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 58,000,000 |  |

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