At its quarterly board meeting on Thursday, the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors unanimously voted in favor of cutting its current power rate by a half-cent per kilowatt-hour. Instead, there will now be a half-cent fixed "grid access fee" per kWh.

According to recent research, the majority of utility customers will spend just 10 minutes each year thinking about their utility services. Using modern digital methods such as websites and social media, utility companies are working to keep their customers engaged and give them a stronger voice in decision-making situations.

This Monday, the Department of Energy rolled out a new strategy to help reduce the potential for energy disruptions caused by increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. The five-year plan will focus on areas such as improved information sharing systems, more advanced prevention technology, and quicker recovery time after a disruption.

The American Public Power Association is seeking to repeal the Clean Power Plan, which was implemented to reduce current power plants' carbon dioxide emissions. The association is urging the EPA to replace the plan with a rule that would allow states to set their own unit performance standards, based on each electric unit's useful life expectancy.

The American Public Power Association has awarded the Reliable Public Power Provider designation to 118 of the 2,000-plus public power utilities in the United States. Now in its thirteenth year, the award recognizes plants that offer safe, reliable electric services to their customers, based on safety incidence records. Six Tennessee municipal power companies were recognized this year: Bolivar Energy Authority Clinton Utilities Board Jackson Energy Authority Morristown Utility Systems Ripley Power & Light Company Tullahoma Utilities Authority

Automation can be a powerful tool for utility systems, as long as it is used correctly. Utilities need to take advantage of tools that can help them coordinate their effective software programs, to avoid confusion and miscommunication.

Public power utilities are increasingly providing not only electric services, but also a variety of other services such as Internet, gas, waste, cable and telecommunication. This approach offers greater opportunities for streamlining service effectiveness, and the benefits are passed down to community residents.

Late last month, the General Assembly wrapped up its session for the year after a long last day of House and Senate floor sessions. There were tense moments with legislators working on yet another legislative fix to the TNReady testing fiasco, and the House and Senate tussling over a few remaining bills. TMEPA reminded engaged on a bill from the beginning of the day at 9am until the very end around 11pm. The bill, regarding municipal natural gas utilities and economic development, was the last bill the House and Senate voted on for the day and the year, and it’s detailed below. It was the end of an eventful day and eventful year for TMEPA.

The House of Representatives has passed a bill (H.R. 3053) to restart the creation of a permanent commercial nuclear waste repository. The new facility would be built in Yucca Mountain, Nev., and the Department of Energy (DOE) would also have the power to store its nuclear waste at the facility on a temporary basis. The bill was sponsored by Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., and passed 340-72, with strong opposition from Nevada delegation.

The Tennessee Comptroller's Office is pleased to offer Free Utility Training for board members of municipalities, counties and authorities who oversee a water and/or wastewater system. We are hosting a free training event at our Nashville office on May 18, 2018. The training is approved for 6 hours of municipal board member and Certified Municipal Finance Officer credit.

Loudon Utility Board (LUB) in Loudon, Tennessee is seeking an Administrative Assistant to support the Directors of the Electric and the Gas, Water and Wastewater departments by performing a variety of administrative tasks. This position will report to the Director of Electric. The individual awarded this position will be proficient in office computer systems and software applications, i.e. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Loudon Utilities Board (LUB), located in Loudon, TN provides over 11,000 customers with electric, natural gas, water, and wastewater services. LUB is seeking a Director of Finance. This position which reports directly to the General Manager will provide leadership to LUB’s Finance and Accounting Department to optimize our financial performance and strategic position.

Loudon Utility Board (LUB) in Loudon, Tennessee is seeking an I T Technician to serve the various departments of LUB and the city of Loudon. This position reports to the Director of Support Services. The individual awarded this position will provide the first point of contact for LUB/City staff seeking information technology assistance.

Demand for better, faster Internet increases every year. Some experts are predicting that homes of the future will have as many as a dozen devices connected to their central router. A city called Morristown has been getting attention for its exemplary broadband service, FiberNET, which is provided directly by Morristown Utility Systems. The locally-owned system offers a fast signal via light that is digitally pulsed over fiber optic glass, and it is affordable to residents because its prices have remained unchanged since it launched in 2006.

Senior citizens without air conditioning are especially vulnerable during the summertime, so Memphis, Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) is taking the initiative in keeping them cool. The utility service has partnered with The Neighborhood Christian Center to offer its annual Play It Cool" initiative, providing window A/C units to qualifying seniors at no cost.

Dickie Slack, 56, is now officially a journeyman lineman for Athens Utilities Board. He earned his certification through five challenging years of apprenticeship, classes and field training, and was AUB's oldest entrant into the lineman apprentice program. His career with AUB has spanned decades, starting with his first position as meter reader when he was in his teens.