Electric Board Supports TVA Exclusive Service

Electric Board Supports TVA Exclusive Service

Danny Brawner, general manager of Carroll County Electric.

Posted
Friday, March 5, 2021 11:43 am

By Joel Washburn

washburn@mckenziebanner.com

HUNTINGDON (February 25) ­— The board of directors of the Carroll County Electric adopted a resolution supporting TVA's exclusive use of its own power infrastructure and prohibit other supplier from selling electricity using the TVA infrastructure.

Danny Brawner, general manager of Carroll County Electric, said Carroll County Electric recently renewed a 20-year, long-term contract for exclusive service through TVA. With the contract, TVA can long-range plan and build infrastructure as needed in and around the county.

The majority of distributors of TVA power have signed long-term agreements with TVA.

Four TVA distributors are hoping a complaint filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will force TVA to allow other providers to serve now-TVA customers through the TVA electrical grid.

According to cleanenergy.org, four Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)'s utility customers, called Local Power Companies or LPCs, filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) claiming TVA is violating federal energy policy by not allowing them access to TVA's transmission system to purchase cheaper power from a supplier other than TVA.

The possibility of LPCs buying energy from sources other than TVA could have significant benefits for ratepayers, according to the website. Memphis' utility claims customers could save billions of dollars and transition to cleaner, less risky energy supplies if allowed to buy from third parties.

According to the website, the four LPCs that filed the complaint are: Athens Utilities Board, a municipal utility that serves the city of Athens in east Tennessee, Gibson Electric Membership Corporation, a cooperative utility in west Tennessee, Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Corporation, a cooperative utility in northern Alabama, and Volunteer Energy Cooperative, a cooperative utility in eastern Tennessee that spans the state from north to south.

The Carroll County Board joined a majority of other TVA distributors to support TVA in its effort to prevent other providers from using the TVA infrastructure.

Brawner said TVA provided electricity "without a hitch" during the winter storm and 10 days of freezing temperatures. He said Carroll County Electric hit a new record of service demand during the extreme cold temperatures. The new record is for February only. A standing record in January exceeds the new February record.

In other business, Brawner announced two retirements, Jimmy Bennett, assistant foreman of the McKenzie line crew and James Simmons, Jr., with the central office in Huntingdon. With the retirements, Danny Toombs, foreman of the McKenzie line crew, will office in Huntingdon and serve as the assistant operation manager under the supervision of Mike Williams, operations manager, who plans to retire in a few years.

Justin Brown and Billy Webb will serve as the foreman and assistant foreman respectively of the McKenzie line crew.

After much discussion, Chairman Terry Howell recommended Brawner have a representative of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System to explain the actuarial study conducted on the department's employees. CCED is considering switching its employee retirement program to TCRS. Brawner said one of TCRS' concerns was 18 employees could retire immediately if the system chooses to buy back.

Board member Lori Nolen said the employees should have a representative at the meeting when TCRS makes its presentation and explains the costs associated with joining the defined benefit program.

A request for membership from the McKenzie Chamber of Commerce and Industry was postponed until the board can learn more information about the new Chamber. The membership dues are $650 annually for the utility company.

Brawner said each of the five county school districts was given the opportunity to apply for a STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math - grant. So far, McKenzie High School received a $5,000 grant. Brawner said he is uncertain if the other school districts have applied.