The members of TMEPA are, by nature, a sharing bunch. Through your state organization, you share information through your conferences. You share ideas through this newsletter. You share lobbying efforts and a most excellent TMEPA staff. During times of disaster-related power outages, you even share crews and other resources to help your fellow systems restore power. (NOTE: In the coming weeks, WordSouth will facilitate a meeting for utility communicators at the TMEPA offices in Brentwood. We will dive deeper into the concepts outlined in the article, exploring ideas on how collaborating with other utilities can improve your communications efforts. Please help us prepare by asking your utility’s communicator to complete the quick survey found in the article. Thank you!)

We know that it is critically important to have a well-defined cybersecurity program in place. Once we have the correct policies, procedures, tools, and training in place, we still have a couple of important questions to consider every day. 1. Is anyone actively trying to get our information? 2. How would we know if we are under attack by cyber-criminals? Unfortunately, this is one of the most over-looked or under-served areas of information security. This is especially true for small and medium sized organizations, which may not have the resources or expertise to manage it properly.

At Denton Municipal Electric (DME) in Texas, the electric department operates the only 24/7 dispatch service for the city other than 911 emergency. While DME serves about 51,000 electric meters, it is responsible for responding to calls related to electric, water, wastewater, landfill, drainage, and traffic services for a population of 126,000 covering 100 square miles. Each department manages on-call workers, but the electric department handles all of the dispatch efforts. Burdened by office and field operations based on cumbersome paper records and hand data entry, DME selected Clevest’s integrated Mobile Workforce Management software solution to improve response time, reliability, and crew safety.

Public Power Lines "I couldn’t have electricity in the house. I couldn’t sleep a wink. All those vapors seeping about," exclaimed Dowager Countess Lady Violet Grantham, the grande dame of Downton Abbey. Imagine her horror if she were to see cars plugged into houses and electric heat in place of those well-tended fires in every room! Lady Grantham’s apprehension is the underlying theme of the story of electricity use through the ages. While it may have seemed magical — or precisely because it seemed magical — people did not immediately embrace the use of electricity until they discovered its convenience.

In politics and policy there are reasons and there are excuses. The American Public Power Association and other stakeholders have been fighting for several years now to explain the reasons why an unprecedented tax on municipal bonds would be bad. There is ample evidence to indicate that: 1. The tax exclusion of municipal bonds is far more efficient than opponents suggest; 2. Taxing municipal bonds would be hugely harmful to U.S. infrastructure investment; and 3. Proposed alternatives to tax-exempt municipal bond financing would increase the cost of financing core infrastructure investments — and state and local residents will pay the price

A unique opportunity to attend one of the most valuable and best-reviewed business meetings at one of the most entertaining destinations in the South is waiting for you. The 51st Annual Meeting of the Members at the historic Peabody Hotel in Memphis provides a great chance to increase the effectiveness of your utility by learning current trends, consulting with your peers, and networking with suppliers and vendors! The program includes informative sessions on critical topics relevant to Tennessee’s municipal electric systems.

One thing you can count on when it comes to the American spirit is that we Americans are never at a loss for something to celebrate. You know all the usual festive occasions: Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day... and that's only the month of May. Here's one that I'll bet slipped your mind. Did you know that the third full week of May was once designated as National Dog Bite Prevention Week?

Did you know that the TMEPA Daily News Clips go out to over 1100 folks, each day, 7 days a week? It's hard to imagine that many on the list with only 59 system Members. It just goes to show how important keeping up with news of interest to our industry is to those who have dedicated their careers to public power. We routinely view hundreds of newspaper articles each day, 7 days a week, "clip" 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.

The Tennessee General Assembly has adjourned. What bills died? What bills passed? How are Tennessee's municipal electric utilities affected?

Most folks know how a bill becomes a law. To show how one bill became a law, we’d like to share how legislation brought by TMEPA passed the Tennessee General Assembly. It deals with something that likely no one outside the Tennessee electric utility industry and Legislative Plaza even knew was being debated. Let’s go behind the scenes to see how HB1290 became a law*.

Tullahoma Utilities Authority has served customers within the small Tennessee town in some capacity since the early 1900’s. How the establishment got its start began in 1901 when the Electric Light and Water Works Commission was formed on April 15th of that year for the purpose of erecting and operating a generating plant for the city.

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.

Columbia Power & Water Systems’ (CPWS) Executive Director reports to a five-member Board of Directors and supervises 117 full-time personnel through five direct reports managing Power Operations, Water Operations, Broadband Operations, Customer Service, and Finance & Administration divisions. Board members are appointed by the Mayor of Columbia, ratified by the Columbia City Council, and serve four-year staggered terms. One member of the board is a representative of City Council.

Loudon Utilities Board, a municipal electric, natural gas, wastewater, and water utility, is seeking an Electrical Engineer for its Loudon, Tennessee, operations. Working under the instructions of the Director of Engineering, the individual awarded this position will have responsibilities in the following areas.......:

Tennessee Job Training & Safety Public Works Program has an immediate need for Safety Instructors who can work onsite in the Tennessee Valley Area. Qualifications: The instructor shall have at least 10 years of experience in one or more of the following departments or utilities: water, waste water, sewer, gas, sanitation, or public works. An applicant may also have certification in the areas of safety or engineering which would give the instructor expertise in the subjects covered by the Job Training & Safety Public Works Program. The instructor shall have graduated from an accredited high school or completed the G.E.D. Experience in the preparation and presentation of training in safety and craft skills will be considered a plus.

Newport Utilities is actively seeking a Senior Systems Operator, responsible for the overall performance and efficiency of the 24/7 communications/dispatch center and the planning and assigning of work to NU’s field resources. This position will support the new requirements as NU moves forward and transforms the SCADA/Dispatcher monitoring functions.

Newport Utilities has an immediate opening for a Systems Engineer. This position is responsible for utility engineering work in the office and field; direct and manage water and wastewater utility projects; and other related work as required. Work in this position involves responsibility for the application of engineering skills and knowledge to moderately difficult and difficult utility engineering projects in connection with the design, construction, extension, inspection, and maintenance of water and wastewater utility systems. Technical work in design and preparation of plans and specifications also required.

The City of Sparta, Tennessee is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Lineman with the Sparta Electric System. Sparta is located 90 miles east of Nashville, TN, 95 miles west of Knoxville, TN and 80 miles north of Chattanooga, TN. The service territory includes a 6.3 square mile service area with approximately 3,000 meters.

Tullahoma Utilities Authority (Tullahoma, TN) is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Electric Engineering Supervisor or Electric Engineer. This position will be responsible for a wide range of activities and key functions for the Tullahoma Utilities Authority. These responsibilities include but are not limited to: • Engineering and system planning • Program administration • Technology support