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Plant Closures (Notes)
 3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]  
Plant Closures Disclosure Plant Closures
Background

TVA must continuously evaluate all generating assets to ensure an optimal energy portfolio that provides safe, clean, and reliable power while maintaining flexibility and fiscal responsibility to the people of the Tennessee Valley. Based on results of assessments presented to the TVA Board in 2019, the retirement of Paradise Fossil Plant ("Paradise") Unit 3 by December 2020 and Bull Run Fossil Plant ("Bull Run") by December 2023 was approved. Subsequent to the TVA Board approval, TVA determined that Paradise would not be restarted after January 2020 due to the plant's material condition. Paradise Fossil Plant Unit 3 was taken offline on February 1, 2020, effectively retiring the plant.

Financial Impact

TVA's policy is to adjust depreciation rates to reflect the most current assumptions, ensuring units will be fully depreciated by the applicable retirement dates. As a result of TVA's decision to accelerate the retirements of Paradise and Bull Run, TVA has recognized a cumulative $986 million of accelerated depreciation, with $33 million and $225 million being recognized during the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.