Welcome to UCEMC, where our commitment to embracing technological advancements fuels our growth and ensures the delivery of safe, reliable power to your home. Join us as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of innovation, dedicated to providing you with the seamless energy experience you deserve. Let's explore the future of power together.
We proudly announce that Reggie Bowlin has been hired as the new Executive Vice President of Engineering Services at UCEMC. He'll join us at the Carthage Corporate office on July 10th.
Reggie has served in the electric utility industry for over 35 years in engineering, customer service, construction, and operations at Memphis Light, Gas, & Water (MLGW). Recently, he served as MLGW's Manager of Systems Operations, directing the control and function of the electric, gas, and water systems serving Memphis and the Shelby County area. He maintains strong partnerships with municipal and cooperative power companies and statewide associations across the Tennessee Valley.
The State of Tennessee requires periodic renewal of the state’s recognition of a nonprofit’s tax-exempt status—reminder: 2023 is a renewal year for the Sales and Use Tax Certificate. The current certificates UCEMC has on file will expire on June 30.
Examples of Nonprofits Include:
Qualifiers must supply UCEMC with a copy of the renewed certificate to receive tax-exempt status. A separate certificate of exemption is needed for each facility address.
The renewed certificate will be effective from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2027.
Sign up to receive texts from UCEMC, and we'll keep you current on what's up with your account. Update your mobile number at your local district office, on ucemc.com in the customer portal, or on our Smart App.
Isa Elrod
Jennifer Holitzke & Scott Elrod
Tessa Hargis
Myra & Greg Hargis
Kelsey Haley
Jayrah & Justin Haley 
Abby Copeland
Barb & Christopher Copeland
The Washington Youth Tour is loading up the buses in a few weeks, and four high school juniors will pack their bags to represent Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation on the trip. Winners of the UCEMC Creative Writing and Scholarship Competition not only earned spots on the once-in-a-lifetime tour of our nation's capital with 2,000 other students from across the country, but they also score a $1,000 scholarship and qualify for additional trips and even more money toward their college education.
The teens submitted their 900-word short story entitled "Co-ops Connect" and competed with dozens of high school juniors in their district. Isa Elrod is a junior at Smith County High, Tessa attends Livingston Academy, Kelsey is a junior at Gordonsville High, and Abby is from Jackson County High.
Each day of the Washington Youth Tour brings more impressive sights, opportunities for photos, and lots of memories. Among the activities on the agenda are tours of Washington D.C. and all its landmarks, memorials, and museums. Highlights include the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Capitol, Mount Vernon, and Monticello. Tennessee's electric cooperatives pay food, travel, and lodging expenses, but the benefits of the Youth Tour go far beyond an expense-paid trip.
Students get help to pay for their college education with scholarships of $3,000, $2,000, or $1,000 awarded by the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association if their story is considered one of the state's top three. In addition to scholarships provided by the electric co-ops, Union University in Jackson and Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City have recognized the leadership potential of Youth Tour delegates. The universities have agreed to provide dozens of scholarships worth up to $10,000 annually for four years.
Will your teen be a high school junior next year? Don't miss the call for entries in January 2024! Learn more about the Washington Youth Tour at youthtour.tnelectric.org.
L-R: UCEMC's Jasmine Byrnes presents Gordonsville High senior Savanna Bryant with the UCEMC $1,000 scholarship she earned by participating in the Creative Writing Contest sponsored by UCEMC and TECA. Savanna also earned a spot on the "Trip of a Lifetime," the Washington Youth Tour last June. Savanna is the daughter of Marlana Mofield and Phillip Bryant.
Gordonsville High senior Molly Jones (right) won a $1,000 scholarship for her 900-word story about how electric cooperatives "Build a Brighter Future." Molly is the daughter of Susan and Chris Klamm.
The Carthage Rotary Club L-R: John Leftwich Jr, Casey Agee, Spencer Farley, Michael Overstreet, William H Adkisson, Zary Shealy, Barbara Kannapel, Julia Harris, Kevin Young, Melissa Hebert, Billy Woodard, Michael Nesbitt, Junior Nesbitt, Wesley Rigsby, Digger Poindexter, Jared Goad, and Larry T Wilkerson.
The Carthage Rotary Club has received $1,188.24 from The Tennessee Valley Authority's Community Care Fund program in partnership with UCEMC Cares, Inc. The money will be earmarked for needy children in the area.
"Whatever we collect during the year, we put into an account for around 60 kids," says Rotary Club President Wesley Rigsby. "At Christmas, we take these children shopping, and they buy clothing. This money will help us tremendously."
Funding for UCEMC Cares, Inc., is provided by generous co-op members who choose to round up their electric bill to the nearest dollar. Since UCEMC Cares, Inc. began in 2014, more than $1.7 million has been given back to community organizations. Upper Cumberland EMC General Manager and CEO Jennifer Brogdon thanked TVA for making these matching funds available. "I appreciate TVA, not only as a power provider but as a community partner, helping us match our members' UCEMC Cares donations for worthy causes."
TVA's Community Care Fund was initially established to support communities across the Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic but was expanded recently to continue through 2023. "TVA and local power companies are continuing their partnership by extending the Community Care Fund program," said Jeannette Mills, TVA Executive Vice President, and Chief External Relations Officer. "This program continues to help amplify vital work being done by non-profit organizations and is intended to help sustain and improve the quality of life in the Valley."
L-R: Billy Harris with EMS in Cookeville receives an AED from Blanche Smithers, President of Chapter 227, Mended Hearts.
Chapter 127 of Mended Hearts, based in Cookeville, has received $2,600 in matching funds from the Tennessee Valley Authority's Community Care Fund program in partnership with UCEMC Cares, Inc. The money will furnish Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to organizations in Smith, Putnam, and Jackson counties. "This grant means another non-profit in the Upper Cumberland Area will receive an AED from Mended Hearts," says Blanche Smithers, President of Chapter 127. We thank UCEMC Cares, Inc., and the Tennessee Valley Authority Community Care Fund for this grant. Since 2004, we have given 212 AEDs to the Upper Cumberland area."
Funding for UCEMC Cares, Inc., is provided by generous co-op members who choose to round up their electric bill to the nearest dollar. Since UCEMC Cares, Inc. began in 2014, more than $1.7 million has been given back to community organizations. Upper Cumberland EMC General Manager/CEO Jennifer Brogdon thanked TVA for making these matching funds available. "I appreciate TVA, not only as a power provider but as a community partner, helping us match our members' UCEMC Cares donations for worthy causes."
TVA's Community Care Fund was initially established to support communities across the Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic but was expanded recently to continue through 2023. "TVA and local power companies are continuing their partnership by extending the Community Care Fund program," said Jeannette Mills, TVA Executive Vice President, and Chief External Relations Officer. "This program continues to help amplify vital work being done by non-profit organizations and is intended to help sustain and improve the quality of life in the Valley."
The Smith County Fine Arts Board plans to use the grant for costumes and play rights for the coming season. Standing L-R: Jennifer Honey, Evelyn Lawson. Seated L-R: Crystal Underhill McCall, Jeffery Grisham.
The Smith County Fine Arts Center has received $1,500.00 from The Tennessee Valley Authority's Community Care Fund program in partnership with UCEMC Cares, Inc. The funds will purchase costumes and rights for plays for the coming season. The theatre was the passion of actor, director, and set designer Bill Reece, who recently passed. Evelyn Lawson of the Smith County Fine Arts board says this season, there are big shoes to fill. "Bill was so artistic! He could act, sing, direct, and design the sets," Evelyn explains. "It will take three or four people to replace him and tackle the tasks required to produce a play. Bill will be missed!"
Funding for UCEMC Cares, Inc., is provided by generous co-op members who choose to round up their electric bill to the nearest dollar. Since UCEMC Cares, Inc. began in 2014, more than $1.7 million has been given back to community organizations. Upper Cumberland EMC General Manager and CEO Jennifer Brogdon thanked TVA for making these matching funds available. "I appreciate TVA, not only as a power provider but as a community partner, helping us match our members' UCEMC Cares donations for worthy causes."
TVA's Community Care Fund was initially established to support communities across the Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic but was expanded recently to continue through 2023. "TVA and local power companies are continuing their partnership by extending the Community Care Fund program," said Jeannette Mills, TVA Executive Vice President, and Chief External Relations Officer. "This program continues to help amplify vital work being done by non-profit organizations and is intended to help sustain and improve the quality of life in the Valley."
The New Middleton Fire Department in Gordonsville has received $4,528.00 from The Tennessee Valley Authority's Community Care Fund program in partnership with UCEMC Cares, Inc. Chief Paul Pope says the funds will be used to purchase much-needed equipment. "We'll replace the starter and alternator on Engine 702, buy six pike pole brackets, a K-9 rescue blade, booster hose, mask bags, and LED scene lights. We thank TVA and UCEMC Cares, Inc. for awarding this grant."
Funding for UCEMC Cares, Inc., is provided by generous co-op members who choose to round up their electric bill to the nearest dollar. Since UCEMC Cares, Inc. began in 2014, more than $1.7 million has been given back to community organizations. Upper Cumberland EMC General Manager and CEO Jennifer Brogdon thanked TVA for making these matching funds available. "I appreciate TVA, not only as a power provider but as a community partner, helping us match our members' UCEMC Cares donations for worthy causes."
TVA's Community Care Fund was initially established to support communities across the Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic but was expanded recently to continue through 2023. "TVA and local power companies are continuing their partnership by extending the Community Care Fund program," said Jeannette Mills, TVA Executive Vice President, and Chief External Relations Officer. "This program continues to help amplify vital work being done by non-profit organizations and is intended to help sustain and improve the quality of life in the Valley.
White Plains Academy Principal Joe Matheney (left) recently received a $5,000 TVA STEM Grant check from Community Relations Manager Rachel Crickmar to support the school's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Laboratory projects.
White Plains Academy has been awarded a grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc., a TVA retiree organization, to develop science, technology, engineering, and math education projects to help spark student interest in future careers in STEM-related fields.
Teachers across TVA's seven-state region applied for funding of up to $5,000 for projects, and 238 applications were selected.
"We are excited to have this funding to support hands-on activities and programs within our STEM Laboratory that help students develop real-world problem-solving skills," said Principal Joe Matheney. "We want to open doors to high quality, rewarding jobs for our students, and the grant will help us introduce them to these subjects."
Schools awarded grants must receive their power from a local power company served by TVA.
Livingston Academy junior Dalton Stout and Gordonsville High junior Breanna Boyd were in Nashville March 13-15 for the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s annual Youth Leadership Summit. The juniors were chosen and sponsored by Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation.
While in Nashville, delegates visited the State Capitol Building, where Secretary of State Tre Hargett and members of the Tennessee General Assembly welcomed them. Summit attendees held a mock legislative session in the Senate Chambers, debating and voting on a bill they developed. In addition to lawmakers, students heard from leaders like Miss Tennessee’s Outstanding Teen, Jane Marie Franks, trooper Shane Moore and K-9 Officer Sumo with the Tennessee Executive Protection Detail.
The Youth Leadership Summit also included a leadership training day at the Joe C. Davis YMCA Outdoor Center and a behind-the-scenes tour of Bridgestone Arena before a Nashville Predators game. Delegates to the Youth Leadership Summit are encouraged to be leaders in their hometowns and use their talents to improve rural Tennessee. “The Youth Leadership Summit gives the brightest students in rural and suburban Tennessee the opportunity to expand their leadership skills,” says Todd Blocker, Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association vice president of member relations and director of the Youth Leadership Summit.
“These young people will be the next generation of leaders in rural Tennessee, and I commend electric co-ops for supporting this effort to prepare young people for the future. These students will soon be our community leaders — and electric cooperative member-owners,” says UCEMC General Manager and CEO Jennifer Brogdon. “We want them to share our passion for the Upper Cumberland, so it is an honor for UCEMC to help prepare them for the opportunities ahead. The future of our rural communities depends on a new generation of strong leaders like these.”
The UCEMC Outage Management System (OMS) is a user-friendly way for members to report outages and get real-time, up-to-the-minute information on outages in their area. The OMS will enable you to report your outage in four ways:
The events of Friday and Saturday, Dec. 23 and 24, were highly unusual.
Winter Storm Elliot brought record-cold temperatures to much of the country in what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration called a "historic arctic outbreak." Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation and our power supplier, the Tennessee Valley Authority, set new winter records for energy demand. Most unusual, though — for the first time in its 90-year history — TVA issued a call for rolling blackouts.
While bundling up this winter, don't forget a blanket for your furry friends.
We all have our favorite season. Some people love crisp, cool weather and bundling up under a favorite blanket, while others prefer the warm temperatures summer brings and all the outdoor activities that go with it.
Sub-freezing temperatures and the winter bills that come with them are never fun. UCEMC is here to help you find ways to manage your home energy use and keep winter bills in check.
The holiday season is finally here. Some call it the most beautiful season of all. That's because we associate it with family traditions and gathering with friends and loved ones. It's a time of giving and spreading joy, reminding us of the good things we have right here in our community. It's essential to spread the blessings as far as possible, especially to the most vulnerable in the Upper Cumberland area.
We're also reminded of how wonderful our community is and what a significant impact we can have when we work together.
When you are a member of Upper Cumberland EMC, you help us spread the good throughout the year. Through our Project Help program, your donations help local families and individuals in need by providing financial assistance with their energy bills.
Fall is a busy time, and October is a particularly eventful month with a full swing of school, community, and sports activities. It’s also when all cooperatives celebrate National Co-op Month.
When we say UCEMC celebrates Co-op Month, we are celebrating you! After all, our co-op wouldn’t exist without you, our members.
Our core business purpose is to serve as your electricity provider, but the larger mission of the co-op is to help make our corner of the world a better place. “Concern for community” is one of seven guiding principles that all co-ops share.
Similar to how our wires run through our service territory, our concern for community flows through all of our decisions––because being a co-op means being a responsible partner and good neighbor.
UCEMC works to help our community thrive through initiatives led by our employees and a local board comprised of neighbors who live in our community. Because we’re local, we understand our community’s unique needs and strive to help meet them.
At UCEMC, we're growing with technological advancements and working to keep safe, reliable power flowing to your home. Take a look:
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.
UCEMC wants to remind members of our community about the power of preparation. While you don’t have to achieve a “doomsday prepper” level of preparedness, you can take several practical steps to keep yourself and your family safe.
Even at a modest level, preparation can help reduce stress and anxiety and lessen the impact of an emergency event. We recommend starting with the basics.
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.
