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 Jun 1, 2026Utility Landscape
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
muniCovers most of Tennessee and parts of six surrounding states through a network of 153 local power companies and large industrial customers
TVA is a federal corporation exempt from state PUC jurisdiction; rates are set by its own Board of Directors and subject to Congressional oversight. TVA's 2024-2026 Integrated Resource Plan emphasizes natural gas, nuclear life extension, and limited renewable additions, drawing scrutiny from environmental advocates and industrial customers over long-term cost trajectories.
Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW)
muniMemphis and Shelby County; one of the largest three-service municipal utilities in the United States
MLGW completed a multi-year evaluation of potentially leaving TVA as its power supplier, ultimately voting in 2023 to remain with TVA but negotiating a new long-term contract with enhanced local solar and demand-side management provisions. The utility faces ongoing infrastructure investment pressure and is pursuing a major grid modernization and AMI deployment program through 2027.
Appalachian Power Company (AEP Tennessee)
IOUNortheastern Tennessee counties including Sullivan, Carter, Johnson, and Unicoi counties
Appalachian Power's Tennessee operations are regulated by the Tennessee Public Utility Commission (TPUC); the company filed a general rate case in 2024 seeking recovery of grid hardening and storm restoration capital investments. The TPUC has historically scrutinized AEP's cost allocations between its Virginia and Tennessee jurisdictions.
Atmos Energy
IOUNatural gas distribution across Middle and East Tennessee, including Nashville metropolitan area and Knoxville region
Atmos Energy Tennessee Division operates under TPUC jurisdiction and utilizes an annual rate review mechanism (ARMS) that allows periodic adjustments outside full rate cases. The company is pursuing accelerated pipeline replacement under its Safety, Reliability, and Integrity Management (SRIP) program, with associated capital recovery driving incremental rate adjustments.
Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC)
coopEight counties in Middle Tennessee including Montgomery, Robertson, Cheatham, Stewart, Houston, Dickson, Humphreys, and Benton counties
As a TVA distributor, CEMC is not subject to TPUC retail rate jurisdiction but files with TVA and its own board. The cooperative is actively deploying broadband through its subsidiary to rural members under USDA ReConnect and state broadband funding, reflecting Tennessee's aggressive rural connectivity push.
Piedmont Natural Gas (Duke Energy)
IOUNatural gas distribution in portions of Middle and West Tennessee, serving residential and commercial customers in approximately 60 Tennessee communities
Piedmont Natural Gas, a Duke Energy subsidiary, is regulated by the TPUC and filed a Tennessee rate case in 2023 that resulted in a negotiated settlement increasing revenues by approximately $22 million annually. The company continues to seek timely recovery of infrastructure replacement costs and is navigating Tennessee legislative interest in restricting local natural gas bans.
Key Issues
- —
TVA long-term resource planning and carbon trajectory: TVA's Integrated Resource Plan and its heavy reliance on natural gas through 2035 is under challenge from industrial customers, environmental groups, and some distributor cooperatives concerned about price volatility exposure and federal climate commitments; Congressional appropriators are scrutinizing TVA's capital expenditure program exceeding $25 billion over the planning horizon.
- —
Atmos Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas infrastructure cost recovery: TPUC is evaluating the pace and prudency of accelerated pipeline replacement programs under both utilities' integrity management tariffs, with intervenors arguing that annual adjustment mechanisms are bypassing full rate case scrutiny of capital spending decisions.
- —
Rural broadband deployment by electric cooperatives: Multiple Tennessee electric cooperatives are deploying fiber broadband networks using USDA ReConnect, Treasury SLFRF, and Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act grant funds; TPUC is examining pole attachment rate disputes and joint-use agreement terms that affect deployment timelines and cost allocation between electric and broadband operations.
- —
MLGW grid modernization and AMI procurement: Memphis Light Gas and Water's planned advanced metering infrastructure deployment and distribution automation investment program, estimated at over $200 million, is subject to review by Memphis City Council and requires coordination with TVA on data integration; scrutiny centers on vendor selection, cybersecurity standards, and ratepayer cost allocation.
- —
Legislative preemption of local natural gas restrictions: Following the trend in other southeastern states, Tennessee enacted legislation limiting municipal authority to restrict natural gas service; TPUC is working through implementation questions regarding how the statute affects integrated resource planning filings and local franchise agreement renewals for gas distributors.
Upcoming
Estimated deadline for Atmos Energy Tennessee Division annual ARMS rate adjustment filing with TPUC for the 2026-2027 rate year; TPUC staff review and intervenor comment period anticipated to follow within 60 days of filing.
Estimated TPUC evidentiary hearing on Appalachian Power Company (AEP Tennessee) 2024 general rate case; commission expected to address grid hardening cost prudency, jurisdictional allocation methodology, and proposed return on equity consistent with recent southeastern IOU rate case outcomes.
Estimated TVA Board of Directors meeting at which TVA is anticipated to present updated load forecasts and potential rate adjustment for distributor utilities effective January 2027; distributor cooperatives and large industrial customers expected to submit formal comments on proposed wholesale rate structure changes.
Estimated TPUC annual report and regulatory agenda publication deadline; Tennessee legislative session begins in January 2027, making this filing a key signal for utility-related bills addressing pipeline safety cost recovery, broadband pole attachment disputes, and any proposed TPUC jurisdictional expansions over cooperative utilities.
Commissioner Watch
View all ↗No commissioner changes tracked for this state yet.
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