TVA Today:
Daily news for employees

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

Corporate Citizenship Survey Distributed This Week
TVA, as an integral part of communities in the Tennessee Valley, has a proud heritage of promoting the social and economic well-being of the people it serves. Employees, through their involvement, are the bridge to Valley residents and communities.

In an effort to strengthen and enhance TVA’s corporate-citizenship efforts, Communications & Government Relations will survey employees about their volunteer service and other initiatives that improve quality of life in the Valley communities. The survey, which will take about 10 minutes to complete, will go out this week. It should be returned by Friday, Oct. 3.

Through its Speakers Bureau, Corporate Contributions, the Team TVA employee-volunteer program and other special efforts by the organizations, TVA supports communities and employees by contributing cash, materials, equipment and in-kind services throughout the Valley. TVA wants to recognize employees for their volunteer contributions to their communities, whether it’s for time worked personally or on behalf of TVA, as well as help interested employees become involved in a professional and/or community organization.

C&GR wants to learn which organizations employees are involved in and about others TVA should consider supporting. For this reason, employees will be asked to identify themselves on the survey. Employees can e-mail the Corporate Citizenship mailbox with any questions they may have after receiving the survey.

TVA To Hold Open House on Proposed Power Supply Upgrades
TVA will hold an open house Tuesday, Sept. 30, to discuss and hear comments on a proposed new power line and substation, which are needed to upgrade power supply and improve reliability in the Etowah, Tenn., area.

The open house will be from 3-7 p.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church, 219 County Rd. 890, in Etowah.

As part of the power-supply upgrades, TVA plans to build about 13 miles of new transmission line. A large part of the construction is planned along the same path of an 86-year-old transmission line. A new TVA substation northeast of Benton, Tenn., also is planned.

To ensure reliability of the power system in the Etowah area, the new line and substation would need to be in service by June 2006.

At the open house, TVA staff members will be available to discuss the route for the power line and location of a new substation. Those attending the open house will be able to examine maps and provide comments on the proposed project.

Property owners whose land may be affected by the project are being notified of the open house by mail.

For additional information about this project, contact Allen Miller, TVA, 1101 Market St., MR 4G, Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801, call him toll-free at 800-362-4355 or visit TVA’s website at www.tvainfo@tva.com.

TVA Materials Standardization Team Chooses Orkin for Pest-Control Services
The Materials Standardization Team has selected a single pest-controller for TVA. The new contract also entitles employees, retirees and partners to a discount for home services. (See more about this below.)

“Previously, TVA had 11 different contracts for pest control at various locations,” says Cristy DiMartino, leader of TVA’s Materials Standardization Team. “After gathering information from each site, we accepted competitive bids from eight companies.”

Following an extensive evaluation, Orkin was selected by the TVA-wide Pest Control Standardization Team, headed by Contract Manager Matt Blakely, to control pests for all of TVA.

“One environmental factor was that instead of using chemicals to eliminate pests, Orkin is one of the companies that use baiting stations and glue traps,” DiMartino says. “TVA’s Environmental Policy Group is working closely with Orkin in support of TVA’s commitment to environmental stewardship.”

Monthly/quarterly services – or when needed
TVA plants and sites will receive monthly or quarterly visits by Orkin, as deemed necessary. Sites that need services in-between should e-mail Orkin’s National Accounts Customer Care Center at NASCOM@rollinscorp.com or call the center toll-free at 1-800-241-1666. Note: On weekends, no e-mail requests – only phone calls. Sites also should call or e-mail the center for any extra or follow-up services.

Emergency services: This applies to any pest situation that is a direct threat to business or the safety of an employee or customer. The contract calls for a response within two hours at a cost of $85.

Standard services: This applies to any general-nuisance pest situation that does not pose a threat. The contract calls for a response within 24 hours at no additional cost.

When making these requests by phone or e-mail, the following information should be included:

• Plant or site name and ZIP code
• The name and phone number of a contact person
• A second contact/phone number
• The nature of the problem or concern

  Discounts for employees, retirees and partners
  TVA employees, retirees and partners can take advantage of a discount on pest-control services from Orkin. Orkin offers a $30 discount off the yearly cost of its pest-control services. A typical customer pays $120 to $150 per year without the discount.

  Orkin also offers a 15-percent discount for termite service. Eligible “partners” include G*UB*MK, NPS, Stone & Webster, Parsons, L. E. Myers and others.

  For information on the services and costs, call 1-888-421-4670. This is a special line dedicated to TVA employees, retirees and partners. It connects to Orkin’s National Accounts Customer Care Center.

  Customer-care representatives will ask TVA callers a few questions for verification and will be able to help them with cost quotes and service information.

Public Can Join TVA To ‘Lend A Hand To America’s Lands’
TVA, along with local, state and other federal agencies, will participate in the 10th annual National Public Lands Day – a nationwide event for local volunteers to improve public lands and learn about the environment – Saturday, Sept. 20.

The event encourages citizens to volunteer their time and effort on projects such as stream-bank restoration, trail-building, exotic-plant removal, litter pickup, tree-planting and wildlife-habitat improvements. This year’s theme is “Lend A Hand To America’s Lands.”

During last year’s event, TVA Watershed Teams and volunteers contributed about 2,867 hours toward enhancing TVA public land. This year, at least 80,000 volunteers are expected at 500 sites across the nation, making the event the largest annual single-day volunteer restoration effort for public lands.

National Public Lands Day began as Public Lands Appreciation Day with 700 volunteers. The project is sponsored by the National Environmental Education & Training Foundation in Washington, D.C.

For more information about TVA-sponsored events, call Jason Mitchell at 632-1803, check with your local TVA Watershed Team or visit the Public Lands Day page on the NEETF Web site at www.neetf.org.