News

TVA Long-Term Partnership Agreement

During their August meeting, HUB’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to accept a “Long-Term Partnership” agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Initially unveiled during TVA’s annual All-Member Meeting held on August 6, 2019 in Murfreesboro, this agreement proposed a twenty-year commitment from Local Power Companies distributing TVA generated electricity.

In TVA’s own words, “The Valley Public Power Model is unique and has an enduring legacy of improving life in the Tennessee Valley region. At present, there is an opportunity to secure the long-term success of the Valley Public Power Model by lengthening and strengthening the contractual relationship between Local Power Companies and TVA. These enhanced relationships will safeguard long-term access to the key elements of the model and can materially change the financial profile for the Valley, the benefits of which can be shared with participating Local Power Companies and consumers.”

In other words, TVA can better plan and predict their long-term financial success if they have assurance that their customers (LPCs like HUB) will be their customer for the long term. HUB’s General Manager explained, “It doesn’t make sense economically for us to purchase power and pay to transfer it from outside the Tennessee Valley. And we concur with the long-term goals that TVA has proposed. We would have been foolish not to take the benefits they were offering us to sign this deal.”

The most attractive benefit to LPC’s who entered into the agreement was the “partnership credit”. This benefit is “in the form of a bill credit of 3.1% of wholesale standard service demand, non-fuel energy, and grid access charges. “This allows us (and our rate payers) to save money into the future”, Vannasdale added. TVA also committed to stabilizing rates for the next 10 years!

Vannasdale honored by TAUD as “Professional Woman of the Year”

On August 6, 2019, the Harriman Utility Board’s (HUB) General Manager, Candace Vannasdale, was honored as “Professional Woman of the Year” for 2019, in recognition of her “Positive Impact and Excellence in the Water and Wastewater Industry”. The award was presented before a group of nearly 800 attendees at the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts (TAUD) Annual Business Conference in Gatlinburg.

During her tenure as General Manager of HUB, Mrs. Vannasdale has become adept at helping HUB and its employees achieve high honors and recognition; however, this award truly came as a surprise to her. “I never expected to be recognized on a personal level. I am truly humbled”, she said. Through her engagement with TAUD and other professional associations, Mrs. Vannasdale has become known as a leader and mentor to both fellow women, and aspiring young leaders. “One thing I love about the water and wastewater field, is that you do see a lot more women entering these careers. The same cannot be said for electric and natural gas. In the TVA region, I believe I am one of only two or three female General Managers out of the 154 local power utilities. While fortune 500 companies are starting to take notice of the statistics that prove gender diversity at the management level enhances a company’s performance, in our communities we are still working towards actualization. I sincerely appreciate that I have an open-minded Board who gave me this opportunity. I hope that I can lead by example and encourage more women to pursue careers in utilities.”

Mrs. Vannasdale greatly enjoys sharing and receiving information that helps others at HUB work smarter and more efficiently. Vannasdale cites, “The vision of HUB is to inspire social and economic improvement through intentional action. By helping others, others want to help us in return. I strongly encourage our employees to network and learn from other utilities because it makes us stronger.” On the last day of the conference, Vannasdale delivered a technical presentation along with John King of CTI Engineers, Inc. on “Lessons Learned from Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Rehab/Repaint Projects” for which commissioners, municipal board members, engineers, and operators in the audience received continuing education credits. Her message was clear, that infrastructure rehabilitation is a difficult truth that most do not want to face. “It doesn’t gain us revenue, it only costs money. However, delaying projects often adds to the cost later on.” At the end of the presentation, Vannasdale met another plant operator who was about to begin a project nearly identical to one in her presentation. Through this connection, Vannasdale was able to offer insight to help the utility have a more successful outcome. “People do this for us, and we do it for them. There is a lot more to running a utility than the public realizes,” Vannasdale said.

Mrs. Vannasdale was nominated by TAUD’s Women in Water community, which is a professional networking group dedicated to women actively engaged in the water and wastewater profession. It was created for networking, growth, and educational opportunities. Members of Women in Water work at water or wastewater plants, utility offices, engineering firms, regulatory agencies, educational institutions, sales firms, and more.

HUB Awarded for Community Service

On July 11th, 2019, in Nashville, TN, the Harriman Utility Board was presented a Community Service Award by the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association’s (TMEPA) during their annual conference. HUB’s General Manager, Mrs. Candace Vannasdale, P.E. was in attendance to accept the award.

In her acceptance speech before the crowd representing 60 separate municipal electric systems, Vannasdale acknowledged that it was an honor to be recognized for the efforts made on an ongoing basis by the entire organization, stating “Our employees strive every day to enhance our community through exceptional service. This award is for them.”

Employees at HUB are becoming well known for their public outreach and educational initiatives. HUB regularly supports the local elementary schools by sending line trucks to teach youth about public power, participating in Junior Achievement, and providing assistance to teachers performing egg drops in support of STEM education. HUB also send employees to participate in career fairs. And this past year, HUB started a Work-Based Learning program, which allows students at Harriman and Oakdale High Schools to gain experience serving with the Utility.

HUB is a also major participant at the City of Harriman’s “Hooray for Harriman” Labor Day festival and even started the “Harriman Trunk or Treat” event which after collaboration with the City last year has become one of the most anticipated annual events in Roane County!

On a more personal level, HUB employees also regularly contribute to company-sponsored programs such as “Warming the Heart”, aimed at assisting rate payers in need with meeting utility payments. Employees also participate and support various community sports leagues, civic groups and local charitable organizations.

HUB’s commitment to future development, including our Five-Year Strategic Plan, as detailed in 2018’s Annual Report, was also noted in the nomination.

TMEPA accepts nominations for this prestigious award each year, evaluating electric utilities in each of three categories: large systems of over 30,000 members, medium systems from 10,000 to 30,000 members, and small systems under 10,000 members. As a medium-sized electric utility, HUB was measured by our efforts to improve the social, cultural, educational, or economic environment of our communities, provide opportunities for employment, and demonstrate sustained performance and achievement as a member of TMEPA.