In 2014, during my first legislative session as Director of Government Relations for TMEPA, I was part of a meeting regarding a bill that would expand where municipal electric systems could offer Internet service. Most of the meeting attendees represented private telecommunications, the usual suspects that we all know. They were all assembled to confront the bill sponsor, Sen. Janice Bowling of Tullahoma.

The United States continues to fall behind when it comes to deploying the infrastructure needed to deliver modern Internet, video and voice offerings, according to the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) 2015 Broadband Progress Report. Fiber optic broadband solutions are by far the fastest and most reliable option, and yet a large portion of the homes, businesses and schools in the United States are forced to function on obsolete network technologies. Meanwhile, millions more have little or no reliable Internet access, including rural areas where the FCC’s 2015 report finds that more than 50 percent of rural Americans lack access to high-speed broadband.

The pace of technology improvements is staggering. The stakes for public power are high. From the meter, through the substation and to the control room, new information and technology must work together to deliver optimal performance. The distribution system today is no longer a collection of individual parts, with minimal interaction with each other. Today’s grid must be responsive, informative, self-healing and most of all able to join the parts into a seamless system, supporting all aspects of utility operations. Hometown Connections has assembled a suite of engineering and operations solutions specifically designed for public power and its unique requirements. The integrated products and services offered through Hometown Connections in support of utility engineering & operations include AMI, SCADA/distribution automation systems, outage management systems, GIS systems, intelligent load management system, interactive distributed generation, solar power, LED outdoor lighting, engineering analysis software, operations management software, and cyber security.

We have exciting news about a new source of safety training available for your employees from the Tennessee Job Training & Safety Program. TN JT&S would like to announce an offering of selected online safety training courses starting in August 2015. These courses can be used to fulfill annual OSHA requirements and are provided in partnership with TCAT Murfreesboro and the Tennessee Board of Regents. The new courses are an effort to improve the quality and effectiveness of the training and services that JT&S provides to our member utilities. Please know that this training is intended as a beneficial alternative that can be used, but we will continue to offer these course topics and others as monthly face-to-face safety meetings if preferred.

Joe Lineman had just left work and stopped at a local convenience store on his way home. While his truck filled with gas, he went inside to pick up a gallon of milk. "Hey, Joe," said the man behind the counter, who had owned the store since Joe was just a kid. "I got a notice in my power bill about that new round up program you guys are starting. I was thinking about participating. What do you think about it?"

Many of you know our good friend Charles Perry. Charles retired from the Paris Board of Public Utilities about eight years ago. Charles was always known as an innovator and after retirement his innovative spirit had more time. He had a goal to install a solar array on his home that would not just pay for itself but maybe pay him back a little also. It's also saved BPU some money. After contacting Charles he was eager to let folks know what his project accomplished.

"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times..." Who among us has not seen that classic 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the Peter Benchley novel Jaws? Remember that grizzly opening scene? According to National Geographic, most shark attacks occur less than 100 feet from the shore, mainly around popular beaches in North America (especially Florida and Hawaii), Australia, and South Africa.

This is the fourth issue of our new digital newsletter. Hopefully you've seen the first three issues. If this is being forwarded to you, let us know and we’ll be sure to get you on the mailing list. If you have other folks you'd like to start receiving it just let us know. We'll be happy to add them. That goes for your employees and, especially, your board of directors. Our hope is that this new communications tool will not only give you more timely information but also give each of our systems the opportunity to post stories/news/information about their company. See MUNINEWS for updates at member systems.

Electric light first rendered the gloom of dusk in Johnson City and Washington County Tennessee in April 1888, powered by James F. Crumley’s new generation plant near East Tennessee State University’s campus. Prominent businessmen -- J.E. Candrall, W.A. Dickenson, W. F. Thomas, M.I. Gump and V.G.C. Harris -- formed a company to distribute that electricity. From this origin, a succession of companies generated and distributed power for much of the Tri-Cities, including Watauga Lighting and Power Company, and Johnson City-Jonesborough Electric Light and Power Company.

If you haven't already registered, the next Great E&O Conference is coming up on October 1 & 2, 2015 at the Riverview Inn, 50 College Street, Clarksville, TN. Outstanding topics and speakers are the focus of this professional group.

'In Tennessee, we make world-class cars, guns and guitars. We make batteries, refrigerators, savory snacks and legendary whiskey. While other states gave up on their manufacturing workforce a long time ago, we never stopped making products used all over the world." Join us next year at our 2016 Annual Meeting, where we'll be also celebrating our 50th Anniversary at the remarkable Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville. Our annual meeting committee is diligently putting together a program which will be the best you've ever attended. Staff is working to finalize some of the topics already chosen. Click on "Learn More" to see who our Keynote Speaker will be on July 14, 2016.

For 100+ years, public power has worked in more than 2,000 communities from coast to coast. It's a great week to remind your ratepayers why: Reliable Power Low Rates Local Control Vested in the Community Caring about the ratepayers needs

Have an important event coming to your town? Let us know and we'll put in on the calendar. Stay up to date with various meetings and events for TMEPA Municipal Systems.

This is a great opportunity for member systems to offer a very informative training session to their own board of directors. It's an annual event that won't happen again until the summer of 2016. The upcoming training session scheduled for October 5, 2016 for TMEPA Members Systems' Board of Directors has exceeded our expectations. We currently have 38 confirmed attendees with another 3 to 5 waiting a final commitment. Since our training room will only seat 30 attendees comfortably, the training session has been moved.

After 38 years of tireless service to the citizens of Covington, TN, Richard Fortner, Covington Electric System Operations Manager, finally hung up his hooks in August. Richard began his career at CES in 1977 as a groundman, topping out as a journeyman lineman in 1980. He took over as Operations Manager in 1996, the position that he held until his retirement.