Every electrical generating technology has characteristics that can’t be reduced to dollar and cents. The summation of these characteristics, add up to a generalized consideration called environmental footprint. One of these characteristics, energy density, can be viewed two ways.

For nearly 10 years, the South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID) in California has been engaged in an epic battle with Pacific Gas & Electric to enter the retail power business and reduce costs for its customers. In the summer of 2016, after PG&E rejected a fair market purchase offer and following favorable court rulings, the SSJID Board of Directors voted to pursue eminent domain legal proceedings to obtain the electric service distribution system from PG&E. In preparation for that decision, the Board asked staff to create a detailed business plan that includes the engineering operations requirements of the new electric system, as well as the transition process. To support the development of the business plan, the SSJID staff brought in two retired power executives via short-term contracts arranged by MFP-Connect™, a joint venture by Mycoff, Fry & Prouse and Hometown Connection

It has been just over ten years since the North American Electric Reliability Corporation was certified by federal energy regulators as the North American electric reliability organization and in an interview with the American Public Power Association, NERC President and CEO Gerry Cauley detailed several accomplishments that the reliability group has been able to achieve since that milestone event. And while NERC is "moving the needle on reliability," as Cauley noted, it is also addressing a wide variety of emerging issues including distributed energy resources.

USI Consulting Group is a long time Partner Level Associate Member of TMEPA. The USICG Monitor, issued by USI Consulting Group (USICG), is a compilation of various retirement and employee benefit articles intended for general information and educational purposes for plan sponsors. If you would like to receive the USICG Monitor, please go to the following website - http://www.usicg.com/publications/monitor/monitor-signup.asp) You may view the current issue by clicking below.

We have certainly heard our share of speeches in the past year and a half. In the hours after the results of the presidential election, we heard the three most important addresses of the season: from Donald Trump, from Hillary Clinton and from Barack Obama. While coming from very different positions, each of these individuals struck a tone of unity and encouraged citizens to work together for a stronger country.

Is free Wi-Fi really Free? What do you think? Mobile computing is a very risky way we use and share information and expose our equipment to attack or loss. Remember that no matter where you use Wi-Fi, there are risks associated. It is critical to use caution when deciding to connect to a public or free wi-fi link.

In our visit last month, I told you of my ongoing telecom relationship with legendary songwriter, Boudleaux Bryant, who with his wife Felice, wrote many well-known tunes. "Rocky Top" being perhaps the best known, certainly among Tennessee Volunteer fans.

The last couple of months we've talked about our daily news clips service. The response continues to roll in with folks wishing to be added to this great service. We thought we'd run the article again just in case you missed the opportunity to be added to our daily clips distribution list. Staff reviews hundreds of newspaper articles each day, 7 days a week, "clips" those we believe are of interest to TMEPA members and send them out, most days by 8:00 a.m. (Central). You can also see the current and past 6 days on our website. If you don't receive the clips and would like to, just send an email to any of the staff and we'll add you to the list (mvinson@tmepa.org, susans@tmepa.org or jelrod@tmepa.org). Click on the link below to see the articles for today and the last 6 days.

During a wild and unpredictable election year, for some it was easy to forget the other candidates on the ballot. Nevertheless, the entire Tennessee House of Representatives and half of the Tennessee Senate was also up for election last week. The Tennessee General Assembly will see most of the same legislators return in January, but there will be some new faces on Capitol Hill, along with some new folks in leadership...

Last week APPA’s Customer Connections Conference was held at the Loews Vanderbilt in Nashville. The annual three day conference offered dozens of sessions in the areas of customer service, energy services, key accounts and public communications. After attending sessions in all four areas, much of the information I learned in the public communications really struck an interest in me. Here are some of things I learned that could help us better get across the good work of municipal electric utilities

Pulaski Electric System (PES) has been committed to providing safe and reliable power in a financially responsible way to the citizens of Pulaski/Giles County for 125 years. Established in 1891, PES has grown from a community initiative that provided outdoor lighting (via an 80-horsepower diesel engine) around Pulaski's historic courthouse square to a full service electric distributor that serves over 14,400 electric customers. In 2007, PES began providing broadband services and currently serves 2,900 customers.

Have an important meeting or event coming to your town? Let us know and we'll put it on the TMEPA Calendar. Stay up to date with all the TMEPA meetings and other events around the state and even nationally for TMEPA Member Systems.

TMEPA and SecurIT 360 are co-hosting a Cyber Security Training and Lunch on December 6, 2017 in the Training Room at TMEPA. Click on Learn more for the invitation. Class size is limited to 30 so respond as soon as possible.

PRESIDENT/CEO: PES Energize, Pulaski, TN, is seeking candidates for the position of chief executive officer (CEO). The current CEO has announced his impending retirement.

Weakley County Municipal Electric System is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Engineer. This position requires, as a minimum, a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited university, and 5 years’ experience in power system engineering.