The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has scheduled a planned outage in the Gainesboro area beginning Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 11:00 p.m. and ending Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 5:00 a.m. The planned outage is required for TVA to replace poles for necessary maintenance.

The following areas and communities will be affected by the outage:

Big Bottom, Indian Creek, York Hwy, Celina Hwy, Jennings Creek, New Salem, Gladdice Hwy, McCoinsville Rd, Haydenburg, SR 85, Free State, Town of Gainesboro, areas of Granville Hwy, and areas of Cubb Hollow.

In case of inclement weather on October 26, an alternate date of November 1, 2025 at 11:00 p.m. until November 2, 2025 at 5:00 a.m. will be used.

TVA would like to thank all members for their patience and cooperation; this maintenance is required to ensure the continued delivery of safe, reliable power to the area.

Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (UCEMC) will implement a rate adjustment effective October 1, 2025, which includes a 4% increase in energy rates and a $3 increase to the monthly customer charge.

This decision was not made lightly. As a member-owned cooperative, UCEMC carefully evaluates every option before adjusting rates. After thorough review, it was determined that this adjustment is necessary to continue providing the safe, reliable, and quality electric service that members depend on every day.

Like many businesses and households, UCEMC is facing higher costs. The price of transformers has more than doubled since 2020, and wire and conductor costs are up over 40%. These adjustments will allow us to continue investing in our system, strengthening reliability, and meeting the needs of our growing communities.

Members with questions are encouraged to contact their local district office for more information.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 13, and make plans to attend UCEMC’s Annual Meeting—a day of community, connection, and celebration. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the business meeting starting promptly at 10 a.m.

We’ll gather for fellowship, enjoy Helen’s famous fish and chicken, and share in the excitement of door prizes, live music, and community fun. This is more than a meeting; it’s a chance to celebrate the cooperative spirit that keeps UCEMC strong and thriving.

Your presence matters. Together, we’ll reflect on the past year, look ahead to the future, and continue working side by side to power our communities.

Bring your family, bring a neighbor, and be part of this special event. We can’t wait to see you there!

Hundreds of Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation members turned out at district office polls on Friday and Saturday, voting to fill seats on the UCEMC Board of Directors in districts one, three, and four.

Incumbent Board member C.D. (Digger) Poindexter received 626 votes and Chris Washer received 467 votes. C.D. (Digger) Poindexter wins the seat in District One consisting of Smith, DeKalb, Wilson, and Macon counties.

David Garrett received 479 votes and Chris Speck received 641 votes. Chris Speck wins the seat in District Three consisting of Overton, Clay, Fentress, and Pickett counties.

Jim Brown was unopposed in District Four, comprising of Jackson county and received 737 votes.

Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation is proud to support the next generation of innovators through the TVA STEM Award Program, which funds hands-on STEM learning in K–12 classrooms across the region. Sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Authority in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated (a TVA retiree organization), the program empowers teachers and school administrators to bring science, technology, engineering, and math to life for their students.

Over the past two years, schools in the UCEMC service area have received a total of $56,000 in STEM funding:

• In the 2024–2025 cycle, four schools each received $5,000, for a total of $20,000
• The year before, 8 schools in our area received a combined $36,000

We’re excited to see even more schools apply this year!
Here’s what you need to know:

• Applications are open August 1–September 15
• Open to K–12 teachers and school administrators in public or private schools
• Schools must be located in the TVA service area and receive power from a local power company
• Eligible applicants may apply for up to $5,000 per project
• Projects should focus on energy, environment, economic and career development, or community problem-solving

Together, we’re powering up the future—one classroom at a time.

Have you noticed? Exciting new developments are taking shape in Livingston, TN near the Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation’s Monroe substation. Construction is currently underway on a 4.75 MW 109-acre solar farm, and site preparation has begun for a data center across the road. These projects are significant for our service area, and as always, our priority is ensuring that our members’ best interests are protected.

At UCEMC, we take a cautious and thorough approach when evaluating new projects that could impact our system and our members.

The solar farm, owned by Silicon Ranch, is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in June 2025.  Across the road, site preparation is underway for a data center, projected to be operational Summer 2025. While neither project is owned or operated by UCEMC, we have remained actively involved in discussions to ensure that they align with our mission of putting members first.

UCEMC is taking a historic step forward by purchasing power from the new Silicon Ranch solar farm. This is the first time we have ever sourced electricity from an entity other than TVA, marking an important shift in how we serve our members. Because the cost of solar power is lower than traditional TVA rates, this diversification may help offset rising power costs. While it cannot replace traditional power sources, it still plays a valuable role. Incorporating solar supports our commitment to providing reliable and affordable service to our members.

One benefit for our members is that the data center’s power supply can be reduced or interrupted when necessary. During certain extreme conditions when energy demand peaks and TVA calls for power reductions, the flexibility of the data center’s power supply will allow us to prioritize residential and essential services while helping maintain system reliability. This added measure enhances our ability to manage electricity demand without placing any strain on our members.

Beyond the electric system, these projects also bring potential benefits to our local communities. The construction and operation of these facilities generate economic activity and contribute to the local tax base, which supports public services such as schools, emergency response, and infrastructure improvements. As these developments progress, we will continue working to ensure that our members and communities see positive impacts while maintaining the reliable and affordable electricity they depend on.

As these projects move forward, we will provide updates and remain available to answer any questions our members may have. Our focus will always be on serving you, our members, with the same dedication and care that has been the foundation of UCEMC.

Celebrating Local Schools in the TVA EnergyRight School Uplift Program

At UCEMC, we believe education is one of the most powerful tools for shaping a brighter future, especially when it comes to teaching the next generation how to be energy smart. That’s why we’re proud to celebrate five outstanding local schools that recently completed the TVA EnergyRight School Uplift Program. This year-long initiative focuses on energy awareness and efficiency, making a lasting impact on students and their schools.

Five schools from our area participated in this year’s program: AH Roberts Elementary, Cornerstone Elementary, Livingston Academy, New Middleton Elementary, and Carthage Elementary School.

We are excited to share that Carthage Elementary School earned a $25,000 grant thanks to their outstanding participation, creativity, and results. The four other schools received a $10,000 grant for their energy-saving efforts.

Led by Carthage Elementary School’s energy coach Sheila Gregory, the CES staff brought energy education to life. Students participated in hands-on energy lessons, created art projects, hosted family nights focused on electricity, and even welcomed a memorable guest. Spark the Energy Monster made appearances throughout the school and was a hit at the Christmas program during a performance of “Feliz Navidad.” CES also created a team of fourth-grade Energy Ambassadors. They created educational songs, helped teach younger classmates, and encouraged their peers to be more energy aware. Even more impactful, students shared what they learned at home with parents, grandparents, and siblings.

As a result, CES improved its overall energy efficiency by 6%! Students voted on how to use their $25,000 grant, and the winning choice was an upgraded playground for everyone to enjoy.

We are proud of all five participating schools—and especially proud of Carthage Elementary School for proving just how fun, engaging, and meaningful energy education can be.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Inc., a TVA retiree organization, is awarding a record $1.5 million in grants to educators to develop science, technology, engineering, and math education projects across the Tennessee Valley region.

The competitive STEM classroom grant program received 647 grant applications this year, and 342 were selected for funding.

Grants up to $5,000 were awarded in a competitive process, and preference was given to grant applications that explored TVA’s primary areas of focus: environment, energy, economic development, and community problem-solving. Any school that receives their power from a local power company served by TVA was eligible to apply.

The following schools in our service area were awarded STEM Grants:

$5,000 Award’s

• Baxter Primary- Busy Bee Buddies
• Cornerstone Elementary- TechFit: Energizing Minds and Bodies through Smart Wellness
• Vital School- “RoboReady: Code Your Future”
• White Plains Academy- Little Eagles STEM program

A full list of the grant recipients can be found at www.tvastem.com.