UCEMC is Building a Brighter Future
At UCEMC, we’re growing with technological advancements and working to keep safe, reliable power flowing to your home. Take a look:
Tag: UCEMC
The Power of Preparation
Make preparations to keep you and your family safe during severe weather events.
With severe weather events occurring more frequently, now more than ever, it makes sense to be prepared. A prolonged power outage or another emergency means having enough food, water, and supplies to last at least a few days.
Annual Meeting and Fish Fry Saturday, Sept. 10
The food, fun, music, and prizes are only days away as Upper Cumberland EMC presents the Annual Meeting of the Members.
This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, September 10, at the Smith County Ag Center, 159 Ag Center Lane, in Carthage. It will feature music by Junction South, a fish fry by Helen’s Restaurant, and door prizes galore. This year’s theme is “Building a Brighter Future.” It’s the first in-person event since the pandemic forced “drive-in” or “hybrid” gatherings for the safety of our members and staff for the past two years.
Registration begins at 9 a.m., and this year’s event promises various displays to enjoy as members arrive. For the kids, Louie the Lightning Bug, our co-op mascot, will be on hand for photos in the Lightning Bug Hangout. He’s bringing coloring books to give away and is ready to meet his fans. Our friends from Tennessee Tech University are eager to show off a hybrid pickup, a fully electric truck, and a Nissan Leaf. They’ll have these vehicles on display.
The business meeting starts inside the air-conditioned Smith County Ag Center promptly at 10 a.m. Members can meet the UCEMC Board of Directors and speak with co-op employees and leadership during the event.
The food, music, and prize drawings will follow, with indoor and outdoor dining options available. Prize winners’ names will be drawn and displayed during lunch, so you’ll want to stay with us. You must be present to win and claim the prize.
We’ll be looking for you on Saturday, September 10!
UCEMC Members Elect Directors
The results are in for the 2022 Directorate Election. Thanks to all members who voted!
District 1, consisting of Smith, DeKalb, Macon, and Wilson Counties: C.D. (Digger) Poindexter, unopposed, received 500 votes.
District 3, Overton, Clay, Fentress, and Pickett Counties: James West retains the seat with 499 votes. Opponent Stormy Halsell received 460 votes.
District 4, Jackson County Jim Brown, unopposed, received 525 votes.
Homeowners Report Solar Power Issues
The idea is to save money on their electric bill and “go green,” but according to these Tennessee homeowners, they’re spending more than ever before.
Check out their stories at the links below and remember – prior to signing any solar agreement please contact UCEMC’s Member Services advisors for help at 1-800-261-2940.
- The dark side of solar power: A Middle Tennessee couple’s warning for others (watch on wsmv.com)
- Solar woes: Knoxville-based power company draws customers’ ire, state’s attention (watch on news10)
Police Report One Dead, Two Injured When Metal Ladder Contacts Power Line
A roofing company employee is dead and two others badly injured when police say a metal ladder they were working with came in contact with a power line in Wilson County. This is just one of the hazards of working near power lines that homeowners need to be aware of. Our UCEMC Safety Demonstration Team has important tips to keep you safe as you work:
Save the Date!
Save the date – Friday July 22, 2022
Safety Device a Necessary Evil for UCEMC Linemen
How can a device capable of causing a massive power outage also be a UCEMC Lineman’s best friend? District Manager Ben Winningham explains the culprit behind some recent outages in the Livingston area that our linemen literally cannot live without:
(Press play to watch the video below!)
Planned Outage Scheduled for Sunday, July 10
Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (UCEMC) plans an early morning power outage for approximately 240 Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation members. The power interruption will begin on Sunday, July 10, 2022, from 5:30 a.m. until approximately 7:00 a.m.
Members who reside in the following areas will be affected:
- Trousdale Ferry Pike
- Stonewall Road
- Ben Gentry Lane
- Club Springs Road
- Smith’s Road
- Pea Ridge Road
- Bellar Hollow Road
- Kirby Lane
UCEMC needs the early morning power interruption to safely set new poles, according to UCEMC General Manager and CEO Jennifer Brogdon.
“We regret any inconvenience the planned outage may cause,” Brogdon said. “Our crew must perform this work to ensure future growth and system reliability in the area.” The planned outage will be postponed if inclement weather, including lightning, is in the area or is expected at the scheduled time of the power interruption.
TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment to Double July 1, 2022
Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation alerts residential and commercial members to expect higher electric bills due to record-setting temperatures and an increase in Tennessee Valley Authority’s Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA).
On July 1, TVA’s FCA will cost 2 cents per kilowatt-hour more than last July. Families who use 1,000 kilowatts each month will see an average increase of $20.73 on their electric bill compared to July 2021. TVA Fuel Cost refers to the variable cost of the fuels TVA uses to power coal plants, natural gas, and nuclear facilities that generate electricity. Upper Cumberland EMC is a distribution cooperative that buys power for its members from TVA. UCEMC does not retain any portion of this rate. 100% of the FCA goes to TVA. The FCA has remained steady for several years, but supply chain issues and inflation have caused the price to climb since this Spring. TVA’s Scott Brooks says the higher fuel rate is due to higher commodity prices. “Recently, there has been persistent upward and volatile movement in worldwide natural gas markets,” says Brooks. “The monthly fuel cost will likely remain elevated for upcoming months.”
Usage is one of the biggest drivers of electric bills. To help save, TVA recommends raising the thermostat and not using heat-generating appliances such as ovens, stoves, and clothes dryers during the hottest hours of the day between 12 p.m. and 8. p.m.
“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 than average in this heat wave will see the savings on their monthly bill. For the third year in a row, UCEMC’s Board recently approved a rate reduction to pass along TVA’s pandemic recovery wholesale bill credit to help offer relief to our members during this challenging time.”
This month has seen record-breaking days for the TVA system, the 7th highest June peak in TVA history. UCEMC’s residential rates are among the lowest in the nation, falling 25% below the national average.
UCEMC is owned by those it serves, with more than 51,000 cooperative members and more than 4,600 miles of power lines running through service areas in Smith, Putnam, Jackson, and Overton counties and fringe areas of DeKalb, Macon, Wilson, White, Clay, Fentress, and Pickett counties.