As an electric cooperative, our top priority is always to provide reliable, affordable energy to you, the consumer-members we serve. Because we are a co-op, our mission is to enrich the lives of our members and serve the long-term interests of our area –– and this mission has never been more critical than in recent months. One of the seven principles that guide all co-ops is “concern for the community.” To us, this principle is the essential DNA of Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, and it sets us apart from other electric utilities.

     October is National Co-op Month, and electric cooperatives across the country highlight the many ways we “Power On.” Keeping this theme in mind, we recognize the essential role we play in serving a particular community like ours.

     Who would have fathomed in March that the COVID-19 virus would test our community and our nation? The changing circumstances due to the pandemic have created both challenges and opportunities. Over the past several months, our challenge is to operate differently, and UCEMC has stepped up to help our members and strengthen the safety net for our more vulnerable neighbors.

     As an essential service, and to ensure the reliability of your power supply, we modified our operations to safeguard business continuity. Our line crews and other employees began working on staggered schedules to maintain separation. Some staff worked remotely. In the office, we limited and modified meetings and gatherings to allow for safe distancing. We also adjusted our walk-in office availability and in-person service calls to ensure the health and safety of our employees and our valued members. Also, we held a safer annual “drive-in” meeting this year to keep members informed according to cooperative bylaws. For the health and safety of everyone, we think these measures were the prudent course of action for the times.

     For our members impacted by COVID-19 who needed help with their electric bills, we waived late fees and worked with those hardest hit to make special payment arrangements. And while we certainly missed visiting with you in person, we found new ways to stay connected. We tell you about all of these efforts not to boast about UCEMC, but to explain how much we care about this community––because we live here too. We’ve seen other local businesses rising to meet similar challenges during this time because that’s what communities do. While the difficulties caused by COVID-19 are daunting, we’re heartened to see how everyone is pulling together.

     In 1938, Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation was built by the community to serve the community, and that’s what we’ll continue to do – Power On.

The COVID-19 Pandemic impact on the Upper Cumberland is unprecedented, creating economic uncertainty for members struggling to pay their electric bills.

To help communities and businesses recover in our area, UCEMC will pass along to members a credit the co-op is receiving on its Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) wholesale power bill. The TVA Board approved the credit as part of a unique $200 million Pandemic Relief Credit plan. The UCEMC retail member bill credit of approximately 1.6% applies to all standard service rate classes and becomes effective October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021.

UCEMC General Manager Jimmy Gregory calls the Pandemic Relief Credit a positive move toward investing in the community. “We buy our power for Upper Cumberland from TVA,” Gregory explains. “With the Pandemic Relief Credit plan, UCEMC will receive a wholesale power credit on our standard service base rate. In turn, this wholesale price reduction gives us the flexibility to pass those savings along to our members during this difficult time.”

In TVA’s recently reported third-quarter results, power sales were 5% lower than last year due to milder weather and the Pandemic’s impacts. Operating revenues, fuel costs, and operating and maintenance expenses were all lower. The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States providing electricity for local power distributors and serving nearly 10 million people in seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity.

Nine UCEMC linemen from the Livingston and Carthage Districts headed South early Friday to restore power in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Shores area.

L-R front row: Doug Regan (Liv); Brandon Rigsby (Car); Corey Gregory (Car); Tim Reid (Liv); Devan Copeland (Liv); Jonathan Washer (Car); T.J. Hillabrand (Liv);

L-R top: Spencer Anderson (Car); Adam Jolley (Car).

Crew Rushes to Assist in Hurricane Aftermath

Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation is sending two crews of lineworkers and equipment to assist Baldwin Electric Membership Corporation with recovery efforts near Gulf Shores, Alabama. Hurricane Sally slammed the Gulf Coast with winds and heavy rain, leaving more than a half-million residents without power.

“We’re proud of our linemen for volunteering to assist the Baldwin EMC crews,” says UCEMC General Manager Jimmy Gregory. “They will be working long days in difficult conditions, but they quickly responded to the call for help. We ask that the public keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers while they are away.”

Crews from UCEMC’s Livingston and Carthage District offices loaded equipment and headed out early Friday morning.  It is unclear how long they will be in Alabama. These nine linemen from UCEMC are joining other co-op lineworkers from across Tennessee who will be assisting with hurricane recovery efforts. The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association in Nashville coordinates requests for mutual aid and makes travel and lodging arrangements for crews who respond. “It is an honor to work alongside so many brave and selfless individuals who leave behind family and the comforts of home to serve strangers in need,” says David Callis, executive vice president, and general manager of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “Godspeed, gentlemen, and thank you for the important work you do.”

UCEMC is a member-owned cooperative that provides safe, reliable, and affordable power to more than 50,000 homes and businesses in the Upper Cumberland.

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  The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) plans an overnight power outage for approximately 3,856 Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation members served from the Gordonsville Substation. The interruption of power will begin at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2020, for up to six (6) hours into Sunday morning, October 4. 

    Members who reside in the following areas will be affected:

• Ivy Agee Estates,
• Hogan Road,
• Rodgers Group,
• Hickman,
• Sykes,
• Brush Creek,
• Gordonsville,
• New Middleton Hwy,
• New Middleton,
• Brush Creek,
• Grant Rd,
• Grant Hwy,
• Alexandria Hwy,
• Main Street Gordonsville,
• Stonewall,
• Lancaster Hwy,
• Edgar Evans State Park,
• Club Springs,
• Carthage Junction,
• Temperance Hall,
• Dale Ridge,
• Cove Hollow Boat Dock.

    The overnight power interruption is needed by TVA to do necessary repairs on equipment. UCEMC will take advantage of the outage to do maintenance on its system as well, according to UCEMC General Manager Jimmy Gregory. “We regret any inconvenience the planned outage may cause,” Gregory said. “This maintenance must be performed to maintain reliability on our system.”

    The planned outage will be postponed if inclement weather, which includes lightning, is in the area or is expected in the area at the scheduled time of the power interruption.