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History of TMEPAThe Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association was formed as a loosely knit organization in 1966, primarily to negotiate a state statute concerning the terms by which cities would acquire Rural Electric Cooperative distribution facilities (electric) when their owning municipalities annexed territory and expanded their city limits. Prior to this time, these cities only representation was by the Tennessee Municipal League (TML). TML represented all 350 plus incorporated cities which included 50% that were served by Rural Electric Cooperatives; hence the difficulty in annexation disputes and the need for a separate organization. As such TMEPA has expanded to represent all the legislative needs primarily in Nashville but also in Washington, D.C. which it coordinates with TML, TVPPA and other utility organizations. TMEPA is governed by a thirteen-member Board of Directors, chosen in staggered terms; three (3) from each of the main divisions of the State and one (1) each from the four (4) largest members. The term of each director is three years. From this governing body, a President, President-Elect and Secretary-Treasurer are elected each year for a 12-month period. The 2009/2010 President is Allen Bradley, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Nashville Electric Service, Nashville, TN. The Annual Meeting is usually held the second week of July and its location is rotated from East to West to Middle Tennessee. The 2009 Annual Meeting of the Members was at the Knoxville, Marriott, Knoxville, TN. The 2010 Annual Meeting will be at The Peabody Hotel, Memphis, TN. Each year in February or March we have a Legislative Rally and Reception in honor of the Members of the General Assembly. The 2010 Rally & Reception was a remarkable success. Our 2011 Rally & Reception will again be at the Sheraton Downtown though the date hasn't been confirmed as yet. TMEPA represents 60 municipally owned electric systems in Tennessee which serve approximately 70% of our state’s electric consumers and 75% of the power sold. The four (4) largest (Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga) serve almost 1,000,000 of the nearly 2,000,000 customers. Memphis is the largest with just over 400,000 and Somerville the smallest at just under 2,000. The Association exists to create the optimum environment in which city-owned electric systems can serve the needs of their customer/owners. TMEPA is a member of the American Public Power
Association (APPA) in Washington, D.C. and Tennessee Valley Public Power
Association (TVPPA) in Chattanooga. The current Executive Director is
Mike Vinson who was appointed on June 7, 2003. Mr. Vinson has over 35
years experience in the electric utility industry. The
first Executive
Director of TMEPA was Tommy
Walker who
served from the
beginning year
(1966) until
1988. He
was followed by Bill Moss,
who served from August 1, 1988 until his
retirement in August 2003.
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