On July 14, the TVARS board voted to recommend that TVA contribute
$350 million to TVARS in 2015. Jim
Hovious and I supported and voted for this recommendation when it became clear
to us that the board was likely to recommend a lower amount without our support. Per the outdated formula in the TVARS rules,
TVA must contribute at least $215 million in 2015. Changing the minimum contribution formula
would require the approval of both the TVARS and TVA boards.
In order to protect TVARS members in the event the federal government divests TVA, the TVARS board can clarify in the TVARS rules that COLAs are vested benefits . (See support from Dennis To here .) Time is very critical now that TVA is working with President Obama’s administration on a financial review of TVA which includes the option of TVA being divested from the federal government. (See here .) TVARS could be terminated upon divestiture. It is very important that the TVARS board take steps to safe-guard benefits before this occurs. If system termination occurs while TVARS remains significantly underfunded, TVARS may never be able to achieve fully funded status. Not one of the six other TVARS board members would second the motion I made in June 2012 to clarify that COLAs are vested benefits. Once again, I would be glad to forward any e-mails from you to the entire TVARS board. Please e-mail them to me at ljmuzyn@tva.gov .
Comments
Post a Comment