Issues & policy
The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association represents 2.5 million Tennesseans by actively engaging with law and policy makers at the state and federal levels.
Advocates for rural and suburban Tennessee
Tennessee’s electric co-ops maintain a vigorous government relations practice to ensure that law and policy makers have a complete understanding of the unique needs of modern electric cooperatives and the communities they serve.
Local. Essential.
Electric co-ops are not-for-profit utilities that provide an essential service to their communities. They are often both the largest taxpayer and one of the largest employers in the areas they serve. Unlike some other large corporations, however, the product provided must be delivered to the customer the same instant it is produced, and the product itself can be lethal if not handled properly. Therefore, electric cooperatives are subject to state law and regulations in a wide variety of areas.
Co-ops have an impact on Tennessee
From jobs to investment to taxes, the impact that co-ops have on Tennessee is significant.
Co-op Concerns
Ownership and ControlEnergy and EnvironmentLabor and WorkforceEconomic DevelopmentTax
PolicyRural
Connectivity
PolicyRural
Connectivity
Ownership and Local Control
Electric co-ops are private, consumer-owned and consumer-regulated utilities. Electric consumers, also called members, vote for directors to oversee the operation of the cooperative. We believe that decisions that impact the co-op and our consumers are best made locally by the board, not from Nashville or Washington, D.C. Co-ops work to protect local ownership and local control.
Energy and Environment
Co-ops support energy policies that balance clean energy with affordability and reliability. We believe that innovation, not government regulation, provides the most direct path to reduced carbon emissions, and Tennessee’s electric cooperatives are proud of the accomplishments that have been made in our state. Co-ops have built more than 2.5 megawatts of solar generation, and our power supplier, the Tennessee Valley Authority, is forecast to reduce its system carbon dioxide rate by 60 percent by 2020. Tennessee’s electric cooperatives support realistic energy policies that protect our ability to provide reliable, affordable electric power.
Labor and workforce
Cooperatives in Tennessee employ more than 2,400 employees. Electric cooperatives are committed to protecting their safety and long-term well-being.
Economic Development
Co-ops partner with local communities to recruit jobs and capital investment to rural and suburban Tennessee. USDA rural economic development loan and grant programs offered by co-ops have awarded more than $39 million to their communities to recruit and retain jobs.
Tax Policy
Electric co-ops are frequently the largest tax-payers in the communities they serve. Last year co-ops paid more than $63 million in ad valorem taxes that support roads, parks and schools across Tennessee. Co-op tax payments are the equivalent of salaries for more than 1,300 teachers. Co-ops closely monitor tax policy and the impact that taxes will have on rate payers.
Rural Connectivity
Modern education, healthcare and commerce all depend on access to the internet. When broadband is unavailable, too slow or too expensive, the impacts can be profound with jobs and capital investment locating elsewhere, students falling behind their urban peers and existing businesses missing out on opportunities to sell their goods and services. To support the growing technology and communications needs of modern power grids, many co-ops already operate internal fiber optic networks that reach deep into rural Tennessee. Co-ops have a legacy of expanding critical infrastructure beyond the city limits. A generation ago, the issue was electricity. Today, it is broadband.
Policy News
Electric co-ops build relationships during day on the hill
NASHVILLE – More than 175 electric cooperative leaders from…
Tennessee General Assembly App
The 112th General Assembly app was developed by the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and Bass Berry & Sims PLC and contains detailed and searchable contact, staff and committee information for Tennessee representatives and senators. It is available for iPhone, iPad and Android.
