News
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Welcome back to Nashville
By Mike Knotts, Director of Government Affairs One of the things that makes your cooperative different from “a regular old power company” is that it is owned and controlled by its individual members. Good people like you take time out of their lives and put themselves up for election to serve on the board of directors at your co-op. They are your neighbors, and that local connection is what makes a tremendous difference in the priorities that guide their work. While you might hear other utilities owned by huge, multinational corporations talk the talk about things like commitment to community, […]
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Polar Opposites
By David Callis, Executive Vice President and General Manager The ice has melted, and burst water lines are repaired. Little evidence is left of the record cold weather — other than high heating bills. As painful as the financial impact is, the alternative could have been much more uncomfortable. The extreme temperatures pushed the Tennessee Valley Authority to a new record demand as we all tried to stay warm. With heating systems running nonstop, lines and substations were pushed to their limits. In a few instances, the strain caused temporary outages. Occasionally, experts make harsh assessments about the condition of […]
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Cooperative response to State of the Union
(ARLINGTON, VA) — Jo Ann Emerson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), made the following statement regarding the President’s State of the Union speech this evening. “Electric cooperatives advocate for a federal energy policy of reliable and affordable power while protecting health and the environment. “The President plans to offer a vision tonight that he hopes will expand opportunity for all Americans. However, his Administration’s regulations could directly undermine this goal, especially for those living on fixed income or at lower levels of earnings. “Specifically, the potential costs of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) greenhouse gas regulations […]
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Extreme Winter Weather Will Push Energy Bills Higher
The extreme winter weather conditions being experienced in the Tennessee Valley in January have resulted in record energy usage that will ultimately impact end-use power consumers through higher — perhaps significantly higher — power bills in February and March. Earlier this month, an arctic weather system — recognized as a polar vortex by the National Weather Service — passed through the region, causing record-setting cold temperatures that resulted in an average of 4.2 degrees across the Valley on Tuesday, Jan. 7. On that day, energy usage on TVA’s system set an all-time record over a 24-hour period with 703 million […]
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NRECA Responds to EPA letter
Co-ops: Access to All Options in Energy Policy Critical to Reliability, Affordability (ARLINGTON, VA) — Jo Ann Emerson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), today drew attention to the important role access to all fuels plays in the reliability and affordability of electricity in America. “We must be deliberate and purposeful with our energy policy to avoid depriving cost-conscious American families and businesses the affordable, reliable energy they count on as a basic component of everyday life. The competitiveness of the U.S. economy depends upon options when it comes to energy and the regional, economic and demographic […]
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2014 General Assembly
The Tennessee Legislature will tackle several major issues in 2014, all while attempting to adjourn earlier than it ever has. In order to accomplish this, the members of the General Assembly will have to work earlier and faster than in years past. All while preparing to return home and face re-election this fall. In terms of issues that affect electric cooperatives, it is too early to tell the exact number and substance of bills that will require our involvement. TECA staff will remain vigilant, and communicate with you about these matters thorough our weekly update on Legislatiion – A […]
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TVA sets second highest winter peak
Tuesday, Jan. 7, was an all-time record energy day for TVA using 703 gigawatt-hours over the 24 hour period. That equates to an average hourly demand across the entire day of 29,300 megawatts. Monday, Jan. 6, was TVA’s fourth-highest energy day at 678 gigawatt-hours. “We appreciate all the efforts by our local power companies to reduce voltage, along with any appeals for power conservation locally during the heaviest demand period Tuesday morning,” the statement read. Many Tennessee co-ops took action to conserve energy in their own facilities and requested that members do the same via media releases and social media. […]
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Stay safe in extreme cold
A blast of extremely cold weather is set to cover Tennessee in the next few days. To stay safe during this winter storm, the Red Cross urges people to follow these steps: Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat. Be extremely careful if you have to shovel snow. It is physically strenuous work, so take frequent breaks and stay hydrated. Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of hypothermia, including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Watch for symptoms of frostbite, including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or […]
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Have a safe holiday season
The most wonderful time of the year can also be the most stressful—particularly when it comes to keeping your kids safe through parties, presents, travel, and meals. Follow these tips from the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) to protect your little ones this holiday season. For more information, visit holidaysafety.org. Electronic gifts About 70 percent of child-related electrical accidents occur at home when adult supervision is present, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. So make sure those new toys don’t pose a danger. Electric-powered toys and other devices can be extremely hazardous if improperly used or […]
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Co-op members targeted by scam
NASHVILLE – Tennessee’s electric cooperatives are warning residents to be on the alert for a telephone scam targeting utility consumers. Scam artists call a home or business posing as a co-op or utility employee and threaten to shut off service unless the consumer provides immediate payment. “The calls sound official,” says David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “They claim to be with the local electric cooperative, and many times the caller ID even displays the name of the utility.” Co-op officials say that the scam is easy to recognize. Callis says electric co-ops will not call […]