The TVA Robotics Grant application period is now open, and Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation encourages eligible local schools to apply.

This grant program is a great opportunity to invest in students through hands on learning experiences that build creativity, teamwork, problem solving, and technical skills. Funding can be used to help start a robotics program or strengthen an existing one through the purchase of robotics kits, tools, materials, and competition entry fees.

We want to see students in our communities succeed and thrive, and opportunities like this can help create pathways for growth, confidence, and future career readiness. Applicants can learn more and apply at tva.com/robotics.

Programs like this are especially meaningful because similar grant opportunities have already helped schools in our area create impactful learning experiences for students.

UCEMC recently visited several local schools with TVA to see firsthand how past STEM grant funds are being used.

At Algood Middle School, students are building a composting station that will help reduce waste at the school and create plant food for their garden and arboretum tree farm. According to Ms. Wren, all of her students helped build the compost bins.

At VITAL School, students built a drone completely on their own and are now using it in competition. They assembled it, configured the mechanics, and brought it to life through their own work and learning.

At White Plains School, grant funds helped provide a greenhouse that will allow students to expand their plant lessons and experience more of the growing process from seed to sprout.

These projects show how grant funding can support meaningful, student driven learning. We encourage eligible schools and organizations to apply for the TVA Robotics Grant and take advantage of this opportunity to bring even more hands on educational experiences to students in our region.

Our UCEMC offices will be closed tomorrow, Friday, April 3rd in observance of Good Friday.

As always, our crews are on call 24/7 for outage emergencies.

We wish you and your family a blessed Easter weekend.

By Jennifer Brogdon

Mornings are still crisp, but the sunshine lingers a little longer. Green starts peeking through the brown. It feels like winter hangs on forever… and then, almost overnight, spring arrives.

That change is a good reminder that big things often start small. A tiny seed pushes through the dirt, grows strong roots, and over time becomes something steady and resilient, able to weather whatever comes its way.

That’s what I think about when I think about the people who keep your power on.

Reliable electric service isn’t created in a single moment or during a storm. It’s built quietly and consistently, long before severe weather ever shows up in the forecast. It comes from the everyday work that prepares our system to perform when it matters most.

Much of that work happens behind the scenes. It’s routine maintenance and equipment inspections. It’s replacing poles before they fail. It’s trimming trees and clearing vegetation away from power lines so fewer limbs come down when the wind blows or ice builds up. All of this makes a real difference with fewer outages, faster restoration, and safer conditions for everyone.

Reliability is also about people. It’s dependability, teamwork, communication, and character, especially when conditions are tough and the work is hard.

Here in the Upper Cumberland, we know severe weather can move in quickly. Even with careful preparation, high winds, ice, snow, and lightning can take a toll on our electric system. When that happens, our crews respond with skill and care, working to restore power as safely and as quickly as possible. Safety always comes first.

You often see the result of that work when the lights come back on. What you don’t always see is the preparation behind it: the training, planning, and steady commitment that makes it all possible.

As we head into spring, I want to say thank you. Thank you to our employees for the work you do every day, and thank you to our members for your patience during outages and your support throughout the year. You can depend on us. We’re proud to be your cooperative, and we’re proud of the local people who serve you today and every day.

Kyla from Upperman High School and Trevor from Jackson County High School are in Nashville attending the Youth Leadership Summit organized through TECA.

We look forward to every opportunity to educate and encourage students across our service area. Each year, we participate in this leadership summit and bring 2 students from 2 local high schools to attend. These students are chosen by their guidance counselors to represent their schools and communities.

Over the past couple of days, Kyla and Trevor have been participating in leadership activities, building friendships with students from across Tennessee, and learning about the importance of public power, state government, leadership, and service.

One of their favorite parts of the trip was the YMCA scavenger hunt at Camp Widjiwagan in Antioch, where they spent a full day learning, growing, and having fun together. Experiences like these help students build confidence, step outside their comfort zones, and create lasting memories.

They have also had the opportunity to enjoy some of what Nashville has to offer, including a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Goo Goo Cluster Store, and the Grand Ole Opry.

Our Youth Leadership Summit delegates held a mock legislative session inside the legislative chamber, met with state representatives, and even had the opportunity to meet Governor Bill Lee.

Learning about public power, leadership, and state government firsthand gives students a deeper understanding of how decisions are made and how communities are served.

We are proud to support and educate the next generation of leaders. Their future is bright, and we are honored to play a small part in their journey.

A special thank you to Larry and Jasmine from our Member Services team for chaperoning and mentoring these students throughout the trip.

National Agriculture Week is a time to recognize and celebrate the farmers and agricultural families who sustain our communities and fuel our economy.

UCEMC serves a region deeply rooted in agriculture. From family owned farms to larger operations, agriculture remains a cornerstone of our local identity and economic strength. The work of farmers affects every household. The food on our tables, the products in our stores, and the beauty of our rural landscapes all reflect their dedication.

Modern agriculture relies heavily on reliable electricity. Irrigation systems, grain bins, animal barns, dairy operations, refrigeration units, and advanced equipment all depend on consistent power to function effectively. As technology continues to evolve, so does the demand for dependable electric service.

At UCEMC, we understand that farming never stops. Crops must be planted and harvested on schedule. Livestock must be cared for regardless of weather conditions. Equipment must operate efficiently to protect productivity. Our responsibility is to ensure that power remains reliable to support these critical operations.

We also actively support agricultural education and youth involvement. Through programs such as FFA and partnerships within our communities, we encourage the next generation of agricultural leaders. Investing in young people who are passionate about farming helps protect the future of rural Tennessee.

One local farmer once shared a powerful reminder: when food is plentiful, there are many concerns in the world. When food is scarce, there is only one concern, and that is ‘where is the food.’ That perspective highlights the essential role agriculture plays in our daily lives.

During National Agriculture Week, we extend our appreciation to the farmers who work long hours, manage risk, care for the land, and ensure our communities remain strong. We are proud to serve the agricultural families who help make Tennessee such a special place to live and work.

How UCEMC Cares is helping keep Overton County kids safe

UCEMC Cares exists to support local programs that make our communities stronger. It is powered by members who choose to round up their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar. That extra change is small, often just pennies, but together it becomes valuable grants that stay right here at home.

One UCEMC Cares grant helped provide fire blankets for every fourth grader who attended Progressive Ag Safety Day in Overton County.

On Friday, May 9, 2025, fourth graders across Overton County gathered for a hands-on safety event. Their goal was simple: to teach kids practical safety lessons they will remember and use.

“I have coordinated the Progressive Ag Safety Day for Overton County going on 11 years now and I am blessed to be able to help with this great event for our community,” Twyla Whited shared.

The lessons at Progressive Ag Safety Day are practical and real. Students rotate through stations focused on everyday situations, including fire safety, electrical safety, ATV safety, first aid, and other topics that can prevent tragedies.

“We are constantly reminded that this program is so worth it,” she said. “If we reach only one child through our lessons and they go home and apply what they learned, then our work has been a success.”

For years, the Overton County team focused on providing life jackets because so many families spend time on Dale Hollow Lake. In 2025, the committee decided to provide fire blankets to every fourth-grade student instead.

Those fire blankets were made possible in part through UCEMC Cares grants, funded by local UCEMC members who round up their electric bill to the nearest dollar each month.

“Without help from UCEMC Cares grants each year, these safety items would not be possible,” Twyla said. “We have huge community support but funds for these items are limited.”

Soon after Progressive Ag Safety Day, the story took a turn no one expected. A fourth-grade student named Kennedi spotted a small car fire. Her family stopped to help and used her fire blanket. The blanket helped contain the flames until firefighters arrived.

“I am so proud of Kennedi for remembering the fire blanket,” the coordinator said. “And so happy we had adjusted our lesson to teach each child how to properly use them.”

This is why UCEMC Cares matters. It is local help for local people. Grants are awarded to charities, nonprofits, and organizations serving communities across the UCEMC service area. Every dollar stays here locally and goes back into our communities to help our members and neighbors.

Because of members who choose to round up, UCEMC Cares has been able to make a real impact year after year. UCEMC Cares has awarded more than $2 million since the program began, including $166,000 last year alone to 104 local nonprofits.

UCEMC Cares grants support a wide range of local needs, including volunteer fire departments, youth programs, food assistance programs, community organizations, and other nonprofit services that strengthen the Upper Cumberland. We share the grants awarded each month on our website so members can see exactly how their spare change is being put to work. To learn more, visit https://www.ucemc.com/ucemc-cares/.

If you are not donating yet, you can start anytime. Fill out the form and mail it to P.O. Box 159, Carthage, Tennessee 37030, or bring it by your local UCEMC office. You can also sign up by phone by calling (800) 261-2940.

Employee Appreciation Week provided an intentional opportunity for UCEMC to pause and recognize the employees who make our cooperative strong.

Electric cooperatives are built on people serving people. While members often see crews restoring power after storms or speaking at community events, it takes a wide range of departments working together to deliver reliable electricity and responsive service every day. Throughout the week, we highlighted those departments and the important work they do.

We began by recognizing our Finance and Accounting and Engineering teams. Finance and Accounting ensures faithful stewardship of cooperative resources, accurate reporting, and long term financial stability. Their work protects the integrity of our organization and supports responsible decision making. Engineering designs new services, plans system improvements, evaluates equipment needs, and prepares for future growth. Together, these teams help ensure UCEMC remains stable, forward thinking, and prepared for tomorrow.

We continued by celebrating our District crews, Operations team, and Right of Way professionals. These employees work in the field maintaining substations, responding to outages, clearing vegetation, and strengthening infrastructure across our service area. Their work is physically demanding and often performed in challenging weather conditions. They represent UCEMC in communities every day and are essential to the reliability our members expect.

Midweek, we highlighted our Member and Community Engagement teams, including Consumer Service Clerks, Member Services, Key Accounts, Administrative Support, Communications, and IT. These departments connect directly with members, support economic development, manage technology systems, and ensure clear and transparent communication. They help members navigate questions, secure systems from cyber threats, and build relationships that strengthen our communities.

We also recognized our Executive Leadership, Executive Administrative Support, Purchasing, Human Resources, and Safety teams. These departments provide strategic direction, secure resources, support employee development, and reinforce a culture of safety and accountability across the organization.

We concluded the week on National Employee Appreciation Day by celebrating every UCEMC employee. From field crews to office staff, from planning and budgeting to system design and member support, every role contributes to our mission.

Employee Appreciation Week reminded us that reliability does not happen by accident. It is the result of dedicated, knowledgeable, and service minded individuals working together for the benefit of our members.

We are grateful for our employees not just during one week each year, but every day.

At UCEMC, safety is more than our top priority. It is a shared responsibility and a core value that guides every decision we make.

National Safety Day provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on the importance of protecting our employees, our members, and the communities we serve. Delivering reliable electricity requires skill, coordination, and commitment, but it also requires a culture where safety is woven into every task, every process, and every conversation.

From the moment a crew rolls out to respond to an outage to the planning that takes place in the office, safety is always part of the equation. Our linemen operate heavy equipment, work at heights, work with high voltage, and respond in challenging weather conditions. Our operations team maintains substations and critical infrastructure. Our right of way crews manage vegetation to reduce risk. Even inside our offices, safety protocols help protect employees and members alike.

UCEMC has a dedicated Safety team that works year-round to evaluate procedures, lead training, and strengthen our overall safety program. But safety does not come from one department alone. We also maintain a Safety Committee made up of employees from across various roles within UCEMC. These team members bring real world experience and practical insight to the table. They review videos, discuss employee ideas, test improvements, and help shape safety decisions from the perspective of those who rely on these procedures every day.

This structure ensures that safety initiatives are not simply top down policies, but thoughtful practices shaped by the people working in the field and offices. When employees have a voice in safety discussions, the culture becomes stronger and more effective.

Another key part of our safety culture is our Near Miss reporting program. This program allows employees to report situations that could have resulted in an accident but did not. These reports are reviewed by our Safety department to determine whether process changes, additional training, or system adjustments are needed. The program encourages transparency and open communication without fear of blame or discipline. It allows us to learn from potential risks before they become real incidents.

For us, safety is not about statistics. It is about people. It is about ensuring that every employee returns home safely to their family at the end of the day. It is about protecting our members when they interact with our crews or facilities. It is about maintaining a reliable electric system in a responsible way.

On National Safety Day and every day, UCEMC remains committed to fostering a culture where safety is proactive, collaborative, and continuous. Because when safety comes first, everyone benefits.

TVA’s fuel costs are rising, and that is leading to an increase in the fuel cost adjustment that is included in your electric bill. At UCEMC, we want to keep our members informed about what is changing, why it is changing, and what it may mean for your household.

UCEMC is a distribution cooperative that purchases electricity from TVA on behalf of our members. UCEMC is a not-for-profit and does not retain any portion of TVA’s fuel cost adjustment. 100% of this adjustment is passed directly through to TVA.

What Is the Fuel Cost Adjustment
The fuel cost adjustment reflects TVA’s cost to generate electricity. TVA uses a mix of resources to produce power for the region, including natural gas, coal, nuclear, and hydro. When TVA’s generation costs rise or fall, the fuel cost adjustment can change as well.

This is not a base rate increase. It is a pass-through cost tied directly to TVA’s power generation expenses.

The fuel cost adjustment is variable and can change from month to month based on TVA’s actual cost to generate electricity. For the month of March, TVA’s fuel cost will increase. This increase could continue for several months, or it could go back down sooner depending on TVA’s actual generation costs.

Why Fuel Costs Are Increasing
TVA’s fuel costs rose for several reasons, including:

• Higher electricity demand across the region
• Changes in fuel and commodity market pricing
• Reduced hydro availability
• System and operational needs required to meet demand reliably

Because TVA must ensure reliable power for the entire region, generation costs can shift depending on these factors.

What Members May See
For a typical home using 1,000 kilowatt hours, the March fuel cost adjustment is expected to equal approximately a $15.91 increase for the month. Because every home uses a different amount of electricity, the exact impact will vary.

“We’re advising our members to conserve power to keep their costs down,” says Jennifer Brogdon, General Manager and CEO of Upper Cumberland EMC. “You pay for only what you use, and members who use less will see the savings on their bill.”

Prepay and traditional monthly billing members are charged the same electric rates, including the same base rate and fuel cost adjustment.

How to Monitor and Manage Your Usage
Even when power costs increase, managing how much electricity you use can help reduce the overall impact on your bill.

You can view your daily usage through the UCEMC Member Portal at ucemc.com or the UCEMC Mobile App.

Tracking daily usage helps you better understand patterns and identify opportunities to reduce consumption over time.

We Are Here to Help
We understand that changes in power costs can raise questions. UCEMC is committed to keeping our members informed and helping you understand your bill.

If you have questions, our Member Services team is available to review your account, walk through your usage, and share helpful tools and resources.