Tennessee
Tennessee Public Utility Commission
Commissioners
7Active Proceedings
Track Tennessee Proceedings
Get notified when new dockets, commission orders, and regulatory developments are added for Tennessee.
State Intelligence
Updated May 26, 2026Utility Landscape
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
muniCovers nearly all of Tennessee plus parts of six surrounding states; serves approximately 10 million people through 153 local power companies and large industrial customers
TVA is a federal corporation exempt from TPUC jurisdiction; its rates are set by its Board of Directors and subject to federal oversight rather than state commission review. TVA's 2024-2025 Integrated Resource Plan drew scrutiny over continued reliance on natural gas and pace of coal retirement.
Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW)
muniMemphis and Shelby County; largest three-service public utility in the United States, providing electric, gas, and water service
MLGW's decade-long evaluation of whether to exit TVA's power supply arrangement in favor of MISO market participation concluded with a 2023 board decision to remain with TVA, but cost pressures and reliability concerns continue to generate political scrutiny. Electric and gas rate adjustments remain active topics before the Memphis City Council.
Atmos Energy
IOUMiddle and West Tennessee natural gas distribution, serving approximately 175,000 customers including Nashville suburbs and surrounding communities
Subject to TPUC jurisdiction for gas distribution rates; Atmos has pursued annual infrastructure rider adjustments under Tennessee's SAVE (Stable and Affordable Value for Energy) mechanism to recover pipeline safety and modernization investments outside of formal rate cases.
Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC)
coopSeven-county area in Middle Tennessee including Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, and Humphreys counties
As a TVA distributor, CEMC's wholesale power costs are largely driven by TVA rate changes; the cooperative has focused capital investment on advanced metering infrastructure rollout and broadband-over-electric-infrastructure partnerships under Tennessee's rural broadband expansion initiatives.
Piedmont Natural Gas (Duke Energy subsidiary)
IOUEast Tennessee natural gas distribution serving Knoxville metro area and surrounding communities, approximately 130,000 customers
TPUC approved a settlement in Piedmont's most recent Tennessee rate case allowing recovery of pipeline integrity and system modernization costs; ongoing proceedings address recovery mechanisms for incremental infrastructure investment and customer assistance program funding levels.
Tennessee American Water
IOUHamilton County and surrounding Southeast Tennessee communities including Chattanooga metropolitan area water and wastewater service
Tennessee American Water filed for a significant rate increase before the TPUC citing infrastructure replacement costs and treatment facility upgrades required under EPA regulatory mandates; the case has attracted intervenor participation from industrial customers and municipal governments over rate design and cost allocation.
Key Issues
- —
TVA Integrated Resource Plan implementation and coal-to-gas transition: TVA's commitment to retire its remaining coal fleet by 2035 while adding significant combined-cycle gas capacity is drawing legislative and environmental opposition; Tennessee legislators have introduced resolutions urging TVA to slow coal retirements citing grid reliability and rate impact concerns, creating friction between state political priorities and TVA's federal mandate.
- —
TPUC natural gas infrastructure cost recovery modernization: Both Atmos Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas are pressing for expanded infrastructure tracker mechanisms that allow between-rate-case recovery of pipeline replacement and safety upgrade costs; the Commission is evaluating whether existing rider structures adequately balance utility recovery certainty with ratepayer protections and earnings oversight.
- —
Rural broadband deployment over utility infrastructure: Tennessee cooperatives and municipal utilities are actively pursuing state and federal funding (BEAD program, ReConnect) to deploy broadband over existing electric infrastructure; TPUC and TVA distributor regulatory frameworks are being tested on questions of cost separation, cross-subsidization between electric and broadband services, and appropriate rate base treatment.
- —
Water and wastewater utility consolidation and rate cases: The TPUC has seen increased filings from small water and wastewater utilities seeking rate relief and, in some cases, acquisition by larger utilities; the Commission is managing contested proceedings involving infrastructure adequacy, water quality compliance costs under PFAS regulations, and affordability impacts on low-income customers in rural systems.
- —
Electric vehicle infrastructure and rate design: Tennessee's growing automotive manufacturing base, including Ford's BlueOval City complex in Haywood County, is accelerating EV adoption and creating demand for utility-scale charging infrastructure; TPUC and TVA distributors are being asked to address standby rates, demand charge structures, and cost recovery for grid upgrades needed to support high-load charging installations.
Upcoming
Estimated deadline for intervenor testimony in Tennessee American Water rate case docket before TPUC; proceeding involves contested issues of rate base valuation, capital structure, and allocation of EPA-mandated treatment upgrade costs between customer classes.
Estimated TPUC technical conference on natural gas infrastructure tracker reform; Commission staff indicated in spring 2026 procedural orders that a formal policy review of between-rate-case recovery mechanisms applicable to Atmos Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas would be scheduled for mid-2026.
Estimated TVA Board of Directors quarterly meeting at which updated IRP milestone reporting and fiscal year 2027 rate outlook are anticipated; Tennessee legislative observers and large industrial customer groups expected to present formal comments on coal retirement timeline and rate trajectory.
Estimated TPUC open meeting for potential final order in Tennessee American Water rate case; if evidentiary hearings proceed on schedule, a final decision on revenue requirement and rate design is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Commissioner Watch
View all ↗Limited public information is available about Clay R. Good's background prior to their appointment to the commission.
Limited public information is available about Robin Morrison's background prior to their appointment to the commission.
Limited public information is available about David Crowell's background prior to their appointment to the commission.
Limited public information is available about Kenneth C. Hill's background prior to their appointment to the commission.
Limited public information is available about John Hie's background prior to their appointment and elevation to Vice Chair of the commission.
Staff
21| Name | Title | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Schwarz | Chief, Communications and External Affairs Division | (615) 289-5683 |
| Kelly Cashman-Grams | General Counsel | (615) 770-6856 |
| David Foster | Director, Utilities Division | (615) 770-6884 |
| Ashlee Hatfield | Director of Operations | (615) 752-0043 |
| Bryce Keener | Director, Gas Pipeline Safety | (615) 770-6862 |
| Jerry Kettles | Director, Economic Analysis | (615) 770-6894 |
| Joe Shirley | Director of Utility Audit & Compliance | (615) 770-6888 |
| Tracy Stinson | Director, Information Systems Division | (615) 770-6866 |
| Earl Taylor | Executive Director | (615) 741-0917 |
| Aaron James Conklin | Senior Counsel | (615) 770-6896 |
| Tim Drown | Senior Counsel | (615) 770-6867 |
| Chris Eaton | TPUC Director | (615) 770-6851 |
⚡ PUC Watch
Stay ahead of every
state regulator
- —Commissioner appointments, departures, and elevations — all 51 jurisdictions
- —Rate cases, dockets, and proceedings worth tracking this week
- —Delivered every Monday, free