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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Revenues (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Energy Prepayment Obligations
Energy Prepayment Obligations

In 2004, TVA and its largest customer, Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division ("MLGW"), entered into an energy prepayment agreement under which MLGW prepaid TVA $1.5 billion for the future costs of electricity to be delivered by TVA to MLGW over a period of 180 months.  TVA accounted for the prepayment as unearned revenue and reported the obligation to deliver power under this arrangement as Energy prepayment obligations and Current portion of energy prepayment obligations on the September 30, 2018 Consolidated Balance Sheet.  The arrangement ceased in 2019. Revenue was recognized in each year of the arrangement as electricity was delivered to MLGW based on the ratio of units of kilowatt hours delivered to total units of kilowatt hours under contract.  As of September 30, 2019, $1.5 billion had been recognized as non-cash revenue on a cumulative basis during the life of the agreement, $10 million and $100 million of which was recognized as non-cash revenue during 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Discounts to account for the time value of money, which are recorded as a reduction to electricity sales, amounted to $4 million and $46 million for the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Revenues

TVA recognizes revenue from contracts with customers to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. For the generation and transmission of electricity, this is generally at the time the power is delivered to a metered customer delivery point for the customer's consumption or distribution. As a result, revenues from power sales are recorded as electricity is delivered to customers. In addition to power sales invoiced and recorded during the month, TVA accrues estimated unbilled revenues for power sales provided to five customers whose billing date occurs prior to the end of the month.  Exchange power sales are presented in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations as a component of sales of electricity. Exchange power sales are sales of excess power after meeting TVA native load and directly served requirements.  Native load refers to the customers on whose behalf a company, by statute, franchise, regulatory requirement, or contract, has undertaken an obligation to serve. TVA engages in other arrangements in addition to power sales. Certain other revenue from activities related to TVA's overall mission are recorded in Other revenue. Revenues that are not related to the overall mission are recorded in Other income (expense), net.
Other Revenue

Other revenue consists primarily of wheeling and network transmission charges, sales of excess steam that is a by-product of power production, delivery point charges for interconnection points between TVA and the customer, and certain other ancillary goods or services.