Photo Gallery: 2021 Seven States Annual Meeting at Rock City
November 10, 2021

Seven States Power Corporation held its 2021 annual meeting November 4-5 at Rock City in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, just miles from downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. The two-day event kicked off with a board meeting on the afternoon of Thursday, November 4, with the business meeting following on the morning of Friday, November 5.

Much of the discussion centered around the substantial growth Seven States has experienced since it launched as a self-reliant energy solutions company in February 2021. Featured guest speakers on Friday included Jeff Lyash, President and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Wolfgang Maluche, Vice President of Engineering at Volkswagen.

Following the conclusion of the business meeting, Seven States, member-owner EPB, and EPB-customer Rock City celebrated the installation of a solar-powered arbor that will reduce energy consumption and enhance sustainability opportunities at Rock City.

Below you will find photos from the 2021 Seven States Annual Meeting. All photos were taken by Rich Smith and belong to Seven States Power Corporation.

Two banners for seven states power corporation are displayed in front of an american flag.
A podium with two posters on it that say `` together we can make a bright future ''.
A table with trophies and a sign that says see rock city
A trophy with a glass ball on top of it is sitting on a table.
A group of men are standing around a table talking to each other.
A row of flags with the names of the seven states on them
A sign that says seven states annual meeting is sitting in front of a rock wall.
A white and green electric car is charging in a parking lot.
A group of people are standing in a room talking to each other.
A group of men are standing in a room talking to each other.
Three men in suits are talking to each other in front of a fireplace.
A woman is sitting at a table using a laptop computer.
A group of men are standing in a room talking to each other.
A table with a sign that says seven states on it
Two men in suits are talking to each other in a room.
A woman in a green dress is talking to a man in a white sweater.
Three men in suits are standing next to each other and talking in a room.
A woman is talking to a group of people at a conference.
A woman is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A woman is standing at a podium giving a speech.
Two men are standing in front of a podium with a sign that says `` together we can make a bright future ''.
A man in a suit and green shirt is standing in front of a crowd of people.
A woman is standing in a crowd of people with her hand on her chest.
A man is standing at a podium holding a piece of paper.
A framed picture of a building under construction with people signing it.
A group of people are sitting at tables in a room.
A man in a suit and tie is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man in a suit and tie is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech to a group of people.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech.
Two men are standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man in a green vest is smiling while sitting at a table.
A man in a suit and tie is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is sitting in a chair in front of a group of people.
A group of men are sitting at tables in a room laughing.
A group of men are standing around a table talking to each other.
A group of men are standing around talking to each other.
A group of men in suits and ties are talking to each other at a conference.
Two men are shaking hands in front of a sign that says together we can make bright future.
A man in a suit is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man in a suit is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man in a suit is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A group of people are sitting at tables in a large room watching a presentation.
A group of people are sitting at a table clapping their hands.
Two men are standing at a podium giving a presentation to a group of people.
A woman is giving a presentation to a group of people at a conference.
A man in a suit is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man and a woman are shaking hands in front of a sign that says seven states.
A man is standing at a podium holding a robot arm.
A man and a woman are standing in front of a podium giving a presentation.
A man is standing at a podium giving a presentation to a group of people.
A man and two women are standing next to each other in front of an american flag.
A silver volkswagen id 4 is parked in front of a house.
The front end of a silver volkswagen id 4 is parked on a sidewalk.
A wooden pergola with solar panels on the roof.
A sign that says solar garden arbor is hanging from a metal pole.
A solar panel is hanging from the roof of a building.
Three men are shaking hands in front of a fence.
A group of men are standing on a sidewalk talking to each other.
A woman in a green dress is talking to two men in suits.
A close up of an electric car being charged at a charging station.
A woman is standing next to a tesla model 3 at a charging station.
Two men in suits are standing next to each other and talking.
A group of people are sitting in chairs in a parking lot.
A woman is standing at a podium speaking into a microphone.
A group of people are sitting in chairs in front of a building.
A woman is standing at a podium speaking into a microphone.
A man is standing at a podium talking into a microphone.
A man is giving a speech to a group of people sitting in chairs.
A man in a suit is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech to a group of people.
A group of men are standing next to each other clapping their hands.
A group of people standing in front of a building holding a sign.
A group of people are holding a banner that says solar garden arbor at rock city.
A group of people holding a banner that says solar garden arbor at rock city
A group of people standing next to each other in front of a podium.
A group of people are standing in front of a building with solar panels on the roof.
A group of people are standing in front of a wooden structure.
A group of people standing next to each other on top of a hill.
A group of people standing next to each other on top of a hill.
A group of people standing next to each other on top of a hill.

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Jason Reese

By Jessica Bradshaw • July 17, 2026
Jason Reese, General Manager of Shelbyville Power, Water, and Sewer System, leads his LPC with a focus on the evolving technology that strengthens reliability, improves efficiency, and enhances service for his customers. He took a moment to highlight some of the innovation that is truly making a difference across his community. AMI technology has had the greatest impact on Shelbyville Power, Water, and Sewer Systems and our community. Our system converted to AMI meters nearly 14 years ago, and this technology has enabled us to streamline many manual utility processes and improve operational efficiency in our electric and water systems. AMI electric meters with remote disconnect capabilities have enabled us to remotely disconnect and reconnect customers on the collections list, reducing truck rolls, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing employee safety. AMI water meters allow us to identify water leaks much sooner than was previously possible, benefiting both our customers and our efforts to reduce water loss. Our team is also very proud of our recent pilot distribution automation project installed on three circuits, each served by a different substation, which provide power to Shelbyville's two main corridors. Implementing distribution automation on these circuits helps minimize the number of customers affected during outages or the loss of a power source, improving service reliability for the community. Building on its success, our long-term goal is to expand distribution automation across all eighteen circuits and all three substations to further enhance system reliability, resiliency, and service to our customers. As the Valley continues to evolve and change, Jason knows firsthand that Seven States is a trusted industry resource and a valuable partner in helping LPCs navigate the process of implementing new technology projects. In June 2026, we completed our first EV charger project as part of the TN Fast Charge Network, and I cannot say enough good things about how Seven States and Joe Knox helped guide us through that process. These chargers have already been a hit with our community and have also brought in travelers from out of town to our downtown square. Everything from start to finish went as smoothly as it possibly could, and that is due to Seven States.  While technology continues to transform the utility industry every day, Jason believes some aspects of the system will always depend on the knowledgeable workers who keep everything running behind the scenes. Hands-on infrastructure maintenance is one traditional utility practice that I believe will never completely disappear, regardless of how much technology advances. No matter how sophisticated our systems become, maintaining physical infrastructure will always require skilled workers to perform inspections, repairs, and upgrades in the field. Just as the utility industry is built on connections that span across communities, music has a way of bringing people together, even across generations. When asked which celebrity he would most like to meet for dinner, his choice was a musician who has stood the test of time. It would have to be Elvis Presley. As someone who has a love for all genres of music, to be able to sit down and talk with him about his career and experiences from gospel to rock-n-roll would be an absolute thrill!

David Smart

By Jessica Bradshaw • July 17, 2026
As utilities continue evolving to meet changing member expectations, David Smart, President and CEO of West Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation (WKRECC), has focused on blending convenience with programs that directly improve quality of life. Smart points to both digital modernization and energy efficiency initiatives as areas where WKRECC has made meaningful strides for its members. One modernization effort that’s impacted our community has been the implementation of a mobile app and other digitized forms that make it easier for members to do business with their cooperative, including drive-thru registration and tablet voting at our annual meeting. Another would be Home Uplift initiatives, home energy audits, cold climate heat pump conversions and other programs we have implemented to improve the standard of living, comfort, and efficiency in our members’ homes.  Innovation at WKRECC has also extended into advanced energy management and distributed energy resources. Smart elaborated on one of the cooperative’s proudest accomplishments involving internally managing demand and system performance. Our team is especially proud of our PowerShift Program, which utilizes our members’ whole home generators and batteries for demand response. The precision and application technology used has allowed us to offset our peak demand successfully. We have built our own DER gateway allowing us to meter, control, and interrogate home generators and inverters, and our own DERMS platform that incorporates an operational load forecast. Even as utilities embrace new technologies and digital tools, Smart believes some longstanding member habits will remain an important part of cooperative culture. Despite all of the technological advances in the utility world, I think many cooperative members will continue to pay their bill in person at one of our offices. Personal interaction and in-office service continue to matter for our members. In an industry focused on infrastructure and technology, Smart recognizes the value of strong communicators and trusted voices who help bring people and communities together. When asked a lighter question about who he’d like to have dinner with, he pointed to a well-known Kentucky figure who brings folks together. If I could have dinner with anyone, I would love to have dinner with the legendary voice of the Wildcats, Cawood Ledford. I think the stories he could tell would be enlightening and fascinating.

Energy Express: Advancing Tennessee's Electric Future

By Jessica Bradshaw • July 1, 2026
The second quarter of 2026 has been a productive period for the Seven States team, with much of the spring and early summer dedicated to engaging utility leaders, elected officials, community stakeholders, and the public to share the vision, progress, and benefits of the Energy Express Project. Members of the Seven States team had the privilege of speaking with leaders from BrightRidge, Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW), and the Nashville Electric Service (NES). These publicly held meetings served as important forums to answer questions, share project milestones, and demonstrate how the Energy Express Project will modernize and strengthen the Valley’s electric infrastructure for decades to come. Led by Seven States, the project will deliver 220MW of battery storage capacity across multiple site locations in partnership with BrightRidge (20MW), MLGW (100MW), and NES (100MW). The project is backed by Seven States’ award of a landmark $439 million zero-interest loan and grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (USDA RUS). A primary objective of the project will be creating a stronger, more flexible electric grid capable of meeting increasing energy demands related to the state's industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. The battery assets will charge during off peak hours and discharge during peak hours to help peak shave, reducing costs and grid strain while providing utilities with greater operational flexibility. Originally envisioned as a utility scale solar project, the initiative will now deploy battery storage as a standalone resource on the distribution system and the assets will be owned and operated by Seven States. The project's outreach efforts have been featured by local media outlets (highlighted below), and a dedicated website has been launched to provide project updates while offering the public an opportunity to submit comments and questions. As we continue advancing the project, we remain grateful for the opportunity to engage with partners across Tennessee and share our progress with the Seven States audience. We look forward to continuing these conversations with utilities, local governments, community organizations, and rate payers as the Energy Express Project moves forward. Together, we are building and energizing the grid of the future. POWERING UP: Chattanooga-based Seven States to build grid batteries with $439M in federal funds BrightRidge, Seven State Power Corporation partnership to bring battery storage to the Tennessee Valley MLGW and Seven States Power form partnership for battery storage MLGW, Seven States make deal to deploy battery storage Energy Express Project to Bring Battery Storage to Greater Nashville Nashville's power grid is about to get a boost. Here's how.
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