DERMS Solution for Appalachian Electric Cooperative
June 20, 2019

For all that Appalachian EC, New Market, Tenn., has going for it, the cooperative is saddled with a significant deficiency.

“We have one of the worst load factors in the Valley,” said Greg Williams, Appalachian EC’s longtime general manager and a former TVPPA chairman. “Our No. 1 goal is to impact our load factor.”

Enter Seven States Power Corp., which not only offered Williams a way to manage his load control, but to do it with relative simplicity – thanks to DERMS (Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems), a software product made by Seven States partner OATI.

“DERMS offers us the opportunity to centralize all those [load-control] functions and manage those effectively,” Williams said. “And, secondarily, the fact that it’s a Seven States solution makes it an ideal solution.”

It isn’t that Appalachian EC can’t manage its load issues on its own – the trick, Williams said, is to do it as effectively as possible.

“Trying to manage all those different things – water heaters, voltage control, all of it – in all those different silos can be challenging,” Williams said. “We have SCADA, AMI and different software tools, but no way of truly focusing our efforts on energy management.

“DERMS lets us pull all those together into one platform, and it opens the door for other potential projects – battery storage comes to mind,” Williams said. “And we weren’t actually looking at doing this – Seven States brought it to our attention and really opened our eyes as to the possibilities. Seven States brought a solution that we didn’t even know existed.”

Williams said that while DERMS is still in the pencil-and-paper stage at Appalachian EC, he’s already eyeing some near-term goals.

“I’d love to be able to start with voltage control by the end of 2019, then look at adding a demand-response program for our commercial and industrial customers by next spring,” he said. “Those are two things I think we could do fairly quickly.”

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Here We Grow Again! Seven States Welcomes Kim Shumpert as VP of Public Relations

By Jessica Bradshaw • June 9, 2025
Seven States Power Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of Kim Shumpert as Vice President of Public Relations. Shumpert brings over two decades of experience in growing the capacity and impact of multiple organizations within both the public and private sectors. With both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Public Administration, Shumpert brings a distinguished background in executive leadership, having guided regional economic development initiatives and directed comprehensive communication strategies across diverse platforms. Her experience includes successfully managing media relations and fostering strong partnerships. In her new role as Vice President of Public Relations, Shumpert will spearhead efforts to increase the organization’s impact, deepen stakeholder engagement, and advance the mission of empowering LPCs to meet growing consumer demand for technology and innovation in an evolving utility landscape. “We are thrilled to welcome Kim to our team,” said Betsey Kirk McCall, Seven States President & CEO. “Her proven ability to build meaningful relationships and communicate with purpose aligns perfectly with our vision for growth and engagement.” Shumpert joins Seven States at a pivotal time in the energy industry. Her leadership will play a crucial role in supporting Seven States Power Corporation’s ongoing commitment to leveraging technology to design, develop, and deploy forward-thinking energy solutions in partnership with LPCs and the communities they serve.  Seven States Power Corporation is a trusted partner to 153 local power companies across the Tennessee Valley, delivering customized energy and generation solutions and supporting community success through technology and innovation. To stay up to date on Seven States projects, announcements, and news, subscribe to our newsletter .
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