Value of TMEPA

TMEPA was founded in 1966 by a substantial number of Tennessee’s municipal electric systems that wanted to come together to unite their voices on specific legislation that was being considered that year. Nearly 50 years later, TMEPA is going strong, counting all 60 of the state’s municipal electric systems as members. Together, they make up one association benefiting each system individually and Tennessee’s municipal power industry collectively.

TMEPA’s members serve 70 percent of the state’s electric customers — 2.1 million homes and businesses. When we speak as one entity with legislators or policy makers, we bring a loud and united voice to any discussion. The combined effect of sixty municipal electric systems speaking together is much greater than each system speaking on its own. This united voice greatly benefits all municipal rate payers and their communities statewide.

How can this work in practice, though? Most bills that affect municipal electric systems affect all of them. In this situation, of course, TMEPA will lobby and educate legislators about the positives or negatives of a bill. In another situation, a bill may only affect one or a handful of municipal electric systems. When this happens, systems stand with each other as all of TMEPA lobbies or educates legislators about the effects of that bill. Even if a bill only concerns a single system, TMEPA stands with that system and brings the other 59 municipal electric systems to its efforts.

Beyond legislative efforts, TMEPA provides additional benefits to its members. Several meetings are organized by TMEPA every year: the Annual Meeting held in July, the Legislative Rally held during legislative session, and spring and fall Engineering and Operations meetings. TMEPA offers and arranges training programs such as system board member training, JT&S, and NJUNS — TMEPA pays the annual fee for the latter on benefit of all 60 members. TMEPA represents all of Tennessee’s municipal systems in its dealings with TVPPA and APPA. Other specialized training can be developed as needed, and a simple phone call to the TMEPA office gains help when researching virtually any topic that affects our members.

Other benefits to TMEPA members include conducting surveys of TMEPA membership. These surveys are available as a valuable tool to get a sense of how things are done at other systems, with results available in as little as two weeks from the time of request. A daily news clips service brings the most important articles concerning Tennessee politics and the electric industry to your morning inbox. TMEPA now offers legal assistance with on-staff legal counsel, which provides an unbiased second opinion in legal matters outside a system for additional assistance.

With a brand new office that opened in late 2013, TMEPA has a training room that seats 30 people very comfortably and has the necessary amenities and offerings for a group to hold a meeting or class. Free to use by TMEPA members, it serves as a place away from home for member system board meetings and committee and strategic planning meetings. This new facility allows us to develop and coordinate training as needed and as requested by our members.

The above are just a few of the main benefits to TMEPA members. With a very dedicated staff, TMEPA serves in many other areas and tailors its efforts individually to systems to meet their needs. As is typical within our industry, we wear a lot of hats and attempt to give full value to each member, regardless of their size. As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2016, TMEPA strives to meet its members’ needs like never before.