2021 will usher in a new era for The Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation. Jennifer Brogdon is the new CEO and General Manager, effective January 4, 2021. Jennifer will be taking over for Jimmy Gregory, who has been serving as GM since 2009 and is retiring in January 2021.

“Jennifer brings more than 28 years of experience in the electric utility industry”, said Board President Morris “Moose” Tyree. “Her technical background plus her extensive leadership experience positions her well to lead us into the future.”

Before joining UCEMC, Jennifer held leadership roles at Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in marketing, innovation, and regulatory areas. Recently, she served as TVA’s director of regulatory assurance, providing regulatory oversight of 153 local power companies that distribute TVA power. She has strong partnerships with municipal and cooperative power companies and statewide associations. TVA is the operator of the nation’s most extensive public power system and power supplier to a population of approximately 10 million people.

“UCEMC makes a real difference in the quality of life for the Upper Cumberland region,” Jennifer said. “I look forward to working with leadership and staff to provide our members with the best service possible.”

The new co-op leader is a Knoxville native but has strong local ties. She graduated from Tennessee Technological University (TTU) with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. She also completed a leadership program at Vanderbilt University. Jennifer’s two young adult children, Adam (B.S. Business 2019) and Gracie (a junior) are also TTU Golden Eagles.

Ken Holmes’s executive search team facilitated the UCEMC Board’s search for the new CEO.

Jennifer will be relocating to Carthage from her current home in Chattanooga and plans to take an active, visible role in the community.

Welcome to UCEMC, Jennifer!

 Rich and Linda Roherty pose for the cameras at the Overlook near Carthage. The Brush Creek newcomers are pitching for The Upper Cumberland Tourism Association.

     He rides a Harley Street glide. She rides a Harley Softail Deluxe. Together, Rich and Linda Roherty have the best, safely-distanced seats for leaf-peeking as they cruise the Upper Cumberland on their bikes each weekend. It’s a favorite past time they could comfortably enjoy for only a few months in the brutal winds of their native Chicago. Their travels brought them to Tennessee on vacation in 2018, and just as it was when they met at Northwestern 31 years ago, it was love at first sight. They sold their home, packed their belongings, and headed south.

     Hearing them talk about why they relocated to Brush Creek is what tourism commercials are made of. “We talked about good places to retire, central location, weather, activity, and lower taxes, and we decided on Tennessee,” says Linda. “We wanted a healthy location and beautiful scenery. The ridge tops sold me in Brush Creek. The beauty of the area is amazing!” Southern hospitality and an easygoing lifestyle sold Rich on the permanent move. “The surprise was the charm of the people,” he explains. When strangers start talking to you from the Chicago area, you get a little cautious, however here in Tennessee, friendliness is commonplace, and we love it.”

Photographer Hal Harder gets the perfect angle for the Upper Cumberland Tourism Association commercial shoot with Rich and Linda Roherty of Brush Creek.

New Neighbors Connect the Dots

      The unbridled enthusiasm of these tourists-turned-residents was not lost on Upper Cumberland Tourism Director Ruth Dyal. The search for motorcyclists to star in the commercials prompted Ruth’s friends to arrange a meeting with Ruth and the Rohertys. It turns out they were a perfect choice. They were experienced riders and knowledgeable tourists. Central Casting in Hollywood couldn’t have done a better job. “They’re fit, they’re an attractive couple with those gorgeous bikes, and they truly love the area,” says Ruth. “We’re so glad that their unique tourism experience led them to make their home here in the Upper Cumberland.”

      The commercials, billboards, and web ads feature the couple riding their motorcycles along the scenic winding roads and steep grades near the Overlook and Cordell Hull Dam, among other locations. A tourism grant provided funds for production through the federal government’s Cares Act – a stimulus bill passed at the beginning of the pandemic – with the stipulation that the ads include a safety and health message.
      A crisp, sunny day, brightly colored leaves, and calm winds gave the production crew a chamber of commerce backdrop. But working outside in the sun means shooting various angles to get everything in exactly the right light on camera. As Linda and Rich learned the hard way, those takes took a toll. “That evening, we were sore and cold,” says Linda. “We had to move the motorcycles for the still shots many times to different positions without the engine on. Moving 700 pounds around can make your legs ache after a while.” Rich was thankful that the professional photographers got many of the shots they needed on the first attempt. ”We had fun, but positioning the heavy motorcycles on an incline wore this guy out,” he adds. “Luckily, we didn’t have many re-takes.”   

     Starring in a commercial can now be checked off the Rohertys’ bucket list. Still, their promotion of the Upper Cumberland as an ideal place to enjoy a relaxed lifestyle continues for this couple. “If you want to visit or move to the Upper Cumberland and genuinely enjoy a simple, rural life, this is the place to be,” Rich says. “Hiking, fishing, kayaking, and exploring unique towns in the area can be done every weekend.”

     Linda says her lifestyle pitch for tourism in the Upper Cumberland can be summed up with one sentence. “This is heaven on earth!”

    We agree, Linda and Rich. Welcome to the area, and thank you for your UCEMC membership. Happy trails! The commercials will be featured on the Upper Cumberland Tourism Association website once they’re completed.  

If you’re like several homeowners in the Upper Cumberland, you’ve been contacted by suppliers selling solar panels and other renewable energy products.  These contractors are becoming more assertive in our area, calling upon Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation members and offering solar installation opportunities while promising significant savings on their energy bill.

This is the part where we remind you of that old, but still relevant adage: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t.

Call Before You Install

UCEMC urges all members to listen closely to these renewable energy sales pitches. Before committing to any contract, please call UCEMC to confirm the rules and guidelines that all solar projects must follow. The equipment must be evaluated and approved for interconnection to the UCEMC system before it is connected. We need to ensure that the solar equipment does not cause significant safety, power quality, or reliability issues to UCEMC’s distribution system.

We can help.

The Federal Trade Commission warns the abuse by some rooftop solar companies is real, and you’re urged to take every precaution to protect yourself and your money.

The TVA Energy Right program can assist members in identifying a quality network of trained and experienced solar professionals near you. Check out TVA’s Tips for choosing a qualified installer.

We want to help you understand the benefits of renewable energy and we want you to be informed about UCEMC’s interconnect policies and procedures. Please contact UCEMC for more information if you are weighing renewable energy options for your home. 1-800-261-2940.

Local People. Local Power.

We told you about this in October, but it seems scammers are at it again. Some UCEMC members from the Carthage area report receiving a call that, in several cases, shows up on Caller ID as a local call.  Scammers are known to “hijack” the telephone numbers of local residents to make these calls.  A recording informs members that they are to experience a power outage in the next 30 minutes if they don’t pay their electric bill immediately over the phone. This is a scam! UCEMC will never call you asking for financial information.

Please inform us if these scammers contact you. 1-800-261-2940

     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.

.

  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.