Focused on service
TVA leads now and into the future
AT A TIME when Kentucky and America are facing serious energy questions, balancing reliability, affordability and growing demand, I am pleased to welcome the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association to Louisville for its annual meeting May 18–20. These are not abstract issues. They affect families, businesses and communities across our state, and gatherings like this one ensure those conversations stay grounded in real-world solutions.
Kentucky’s 24 electric distribution cooperatives are in a unique position, receiving their electricity from different power providers. Sixteen Kentucky co-ops own and receive power from East Kentucky Power Cooperative. Three are member-owners of Big Rivers Electric Cooperative. The remaining five—Gibson Electric, Pennyrile Electric, Tri-County Electric, Warren RECC and West Kentucky RECC—are proud partners of the Tennessee Valley Authority. These five co-ops are also active members of TVPPA, and we appreciate their leadership in speaking up for Kentucky energy consumers.
Since its founding in 1933, TVA has been an integral and influential force in the development of electric power across the region. As the nation’s largest public power provider, its mission to improve quality of life remains as relevant today as it was nearly a century ago. From hydroelectric generation to natural gas, coal, solar and nuclear energy, TVA continues to lead innovation across a diverse portfolio, helping ensure the reliability that co-op members depend on every day.
That leadership will only grow more important as nuclear energy becomes an increasingly vital part of America’s energy future. TVA’s experience operating nuclear facilities and advancing next-generation technologies offers valuable lessons for utilities across the country. All Kentucky electric cooperative members benefit from TVA’s role in our commonwealth and the broader region.
Like all electric cooperatives, TVA partners are focused on keeping power affordable and reliable in an increasingly complex environment. Co-ops must operate within the requirements of laws and regulations, even as those policies can add costs to the system. Meanwhile, inflation continues to drive up the price of materials and equipment needed to deliver electricity. These challenges will be front and center during TVPPA’s time in Kentucky.
Through it all, the focus remains on the people served at the end of the line. We appreciate TVA’s partnership and the shared commitment to ensuring dependable, affordable power for the communities we serve, today and into the future.
