Gallatin Department of Electricity

Gallatin Department of Electricity Spotlight

In 1899 an ordinance was passed for the issuance of bonds to build an electric plant to light the city of Gallatin, and electric service for the citizens of Gallatin began. A new generating plant was purchased in 1911 for the ever-increasing load. Mr. L.D. Hix was appointed Superintendent in 1919. Kentucky-Tennessee Light & Power bought the electric system from the City of Gallatin in 1927 for $110,000. After 27 years of operation, the city electric department became a private company. Mr. Hix was retained as the Superintendent and served in that position until 1959. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was created by an act of Congress on May 19, 1933 and began supplying power to the Tennessee Valley. Gallatin city officials signed a TVA contract and purchased the electric system back from Kentucky-Tennessee Light & Power in 1939 for $150,000. The bond referendum to purchase the power system passed with a vote of 569 for and 34 against. The first power contract between TVA and Gallatin was for 800kW.

The Gallatin Department of Electricity (GDE) has had four managers since 1939. L.D. Hix served as Superintendent for 26 years after the system was repurchased. William N. Parker served from 1959 until 1986 and had 29 total years of service with GDE.  William (Bill) Draper served as Superintendent from 1986 until 2013 and had 41 total years of service. Mark Kimbell was hired as General Manager in April of 2013 and is the current GM. All GDE managers have been Rotarians.

Last year GDE celebrated 75 years of service to the citizens of Gallatin. Over the years several events stand out that define the service that GDE provides. The Power Board was created in 1948 with only three Board members. Among the first three citizens to serve was R.G. Mayberry, who is the grandfather of our current-day Chairman of the Board, Mr. Eddie Mayberry. Nine Council Members and fourteen different citizens have served on GDE’s Board since 1948. The late Dr. John Wallace has the most years served with a total of 31 years on the Board. GDE built the first GDE-owned substation on Jones Street in 1970. GDE now has five substations with a new one planned for the Gallatin Industrial Park. Friday, April 7, 2006, a deadly tornado left a path of destruction and cut GDE’s electric system in half. All of GDE’s customers lost power. By Sunday night all customers, except those with damage beyond repair, had power restored. 

GDE’s all-time peak to date was set in the summer of 2012 at 168MW. Hoeganaes is GDE’s largest customer with a demand of 51MW. GDE currently serves 17,432 customers within the city limits of Gallatin. GDE has 33 full-time employees. GDE has some of the lowest rates in the Tennessee Valley and has no debt. Growth for the system has been steady around 3 percent the last three years with the largest growth on the Hendersonville/Nashville side of the city. Growth has included both residential and commercial load.

Future plans include a fiber system for the communications backbone of GDE, a new substation on the northeast side of the city, an automated metering system, and additional distribution automation. GDE has been in their current building since 1967. Several additions to the building and grounds are planned for larger trucks and additional warehouse space.

Several years ago the Gallatin City theme was "Gracious & Growing." The theme still holds true today. Feel free to come by and visit if you get the chance.