Photo Gallery: 2022 Seven States Annual Meeting at FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis
November 21, 2022

Seven States Power Corporation held its 2022 annual meeting November 2-3 at the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis in Memphis, TN. The two-day event kicked off with a board meeting on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 2. The second day began with the business meeting, progressed with guest speakers and a panel discussion, and concluded with a dedication event for two new solar workstations.

This year’s theme, “Celebrate Innovation,” highlighted the impact Seven States is having across the Tennessee Valley by providing expert insight and technical experience for LPCs. Featured guest speakers on Thursday included Jeff Lyash, President and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and George Andraos, Director of Sustainable Energy and Innovation at Ford. A panel discussion between LPC leaders and Seven States staff highlighted the organization’s work across the Valley.

Seven States, member-owner MLGW, and MLGW-customer FedEx Institute of Technology ended the event by celebrating the installation of two solar workstations on the University of Memphis campus that will charge electronic devices for students, faculty, staff, and the community.

Below you will find photos from the 2022 Seven States Annual Meeting. All photos were taken by Rich Smith and belong to Seven States Power Corporation.

A large billboard on the side of a building says big memphis.
A large brick building with a sign that says rock n ' soul reach out.
A group of people are sitting at tables in a room applauding.
A group of people are singing into microphones in a room.
A neon sign that says poplar tunes welcome seven states and endless highway
A group of people are posing for a picture in front of a sign that says rock n soul.
Three men are standing next to each other and talking in a room.
A group of people are standing next to each other and talking in a room.
A man and a woman are sitting at a table with bottles of water.
A man and a woman are talking to each other in a crowded room.
A hallway with signs for kentucky , georgia , mississippi and alabama
A large building with a lot of windows is sitting next to a smaller building.
A group of people are standing in a room talking to each other.
A group of men in suits are standing next to each other and laughing.
Two men are standing next to each other in a room and talking.
A group of people are standing around a table with green bags.
A man is signing a picture on a table.
A table topped with a row of white bags with green lightning bolts on them.
A group of people are standing around a table with cards on it.
A group of people are standing in a room talking to each other.
A group of people are standing around a table talking to each other.
A group of men are standing around a table with bags on it.
A seven states banner is hanging on a wall next to stairs
A woman is sitting at a table with a green table cloth.
Four green and white business cards with lightning bolts on them are sitting on a green table.
A group of men are standing next to each other in a lobby talking to each other.
A man and a woman are talking to each other in a lobby.
A man and a woman are standing next to each other and talking.
A group of people are standing in a hallway talking to each other.
A group of people are standing in a room talking to each other.
A group of people are standing in a lobby talking to each other.
A group of men are shaking hands at a conference.
Two men are talking to each other in a crowded room.
A white and green electric car is parked in a parking lot.
A blue picnic table with a solar panel on top of it.
A blue picnic table with a solar panel on top of it in front of a brick building.
The fedex institute of technology is located in a brick building.
A group of signs that say `` together we can make a bright future ''
A group of people are sitting in a large auditorium.
Two trophies are sitting on a green table.
A bunch of light bulbs filled with green balls on a table.
A group of men are sitting at a table in a conference room.
A group of people are sitting in an auditorium watching a presentation on a large screen.
A man is giving a speech at a podium in front of a large screen.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is giving a presentation in front of a large audience in a lecture hall.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is giving a presentation in front of a large screen in a conference room.
A man in a suit and tie is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man in a suit is standing at a podium giving a presentation.
A woman is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A woman is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A group of people are sitting in an auditorium watching a presentation on a large screen.
A group of people are sitting in a council chamber watching a presentation on a large screen.
Two men in suits are talking to each other in a room.
A group of people are standing in a room talking to each other.
A group of people are sitting in a large auditorium.
A man in a suit and tie is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man is standing at a podium giving a presentation.
A ford logo is displayed on a large screen in a conference room.
A group of people are sitting at tables in a conference room
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man in a suit is standing in front of a podium giving a presentation.
A man is giving a presentation in front of a large audience in a lecture hall.
A man is giving a presentation in front of a large audience in a lecture hall.
A man in a suit is standing in front of a podium.
A group of people are standing in an auditorium talking to each other.
A group of people are standing in a room talking to each other.
Three men in suits are talking to each other in a conference room.
A woman is standing at a podium in front of an empty auditorium.
A framed picture with signatures on it is sitting on a table.
A group of people are sitting in front of a large screen in a conference room.
A group of men are sitting around a podium in a conference room.
A man is standing at a podium giving a speech to two other men.
A group of men are sitting in front of a large screen.
A man is standing at a podium with a guitar in front of him.
Two men shaking hands in front of an american flag
A man in a suit and tie is standing at a podium giving a speech.
A man in a suit is standing at a podium giving a speech.
Two men are shaking hands in front of a podium.
A man is standing at a podium giving a presentation.
A man in a suit 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 crowd of people.
A man in a suit and tie is giving a speech at a podium.
A man in a suit is standing at a podium speaking into a microphone.
A woman is standing at a podium holding a thank you sign.
A group of people are sitting at a picnic table.
A group of people are sitting at a picnic table in a parking lot.
A group of people are holding a thank you to our partners sign.

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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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