Is your LPC prepared for a cyber threat?
July 18, 2023

Cybercriminals and cyberwarriors are targeting utilities. Gone are the days when cybersecurity was a nicety. Today, it’s a necessity. Entities ranging from the federal government and hospitals to ports and power companies have been, are currently, and will continue to be attacked in increasingly sophisticated manners.

Bad actors target power companies for a variety of reasons beyond controlling or disrupting power supply. Ransomware attacks are used to hold data or critical systems “hostage” until a ransom is paid, generating large payoffs for the attacker. Cybercriminals are also known to target sensitive customer data to sell to foreign entities or to request false payments from customers. Regardless of the reason for the attack, the compromised power company can be left with damages including severe fines and intrusive investigations.

Governments are finally waking up to the fact that our power companies are often on the front lines of cyberbattles. In addition to federal guidelines, many state governments require safeguards for power companies because they understand that greater security is needed. For instance, Tennessee law requires LPCs to submit their cyber security plan each year by July 1.

LPCs across the Valley do not need to face bad cyber actors alone, and they shouldn’t try. As the go-to innovative technology solutions provider for the Valley, Seven States is ready to help LPCs comply with government cybersecurity regulations and protect against cyber threats.

In partnership with INTUITIVE Research and Technology, a Huntsville-based software engineering firm, Seven States is offering LPCs access to the Grid Cyber Protection Service (GCPS). GCPS provides LPCs access to an enterprise-grade, affordable cybersecurity service to address hacktivist, criminal, and nation-state cyber threats as well as evolving government and industry regulations. Based on INTUITIVE’s DECIDE™Platform, GCPS is a comprehensive approach to critical infrastructure cybersecurity while remaining modular and integrated with existing investments in cybersecurity tools for even greater flexibility.

GCPS will make the entire Valley’s electrical grid stronger by supporting LPCs with a full-time cybersecurity staff, vulnerability and risk assessments, continuous monitoring and reporting, managed threat detection and correlation, digital forensics, malware/ ransomware protection, threat hunting, reconnaissance, and endpoint protection.

GCPS offers LPCs the best of both worlds: they get Seven States’ deep knowledge of the unique vulnerabilities and requirements of LPCs in addition to INTUITIVE’s expert cyber assessments, continuous monitoring, rapid response, and custom reporting services. By pairing Seven States with INTUITIVE, LPCs receive tailor-made cybersecurity options that fit the unique regional utility landscape.

Seven States is offering LPCs the opportunity to partner with a cybersecurity leader, INTUITIVE, to build a stronger defense against cybercriminals.  Reach out to BJ Bernard today to begin a conversation about Seven States’ Grid Cyber Protection Service.

By Jessica Bradshaw April 7, 2026
Seven States Power Corporation President and CEO, Betsey Kirk McCall, attended the Tennessee Valley Corridor (TVC) Board of Directors meeting in Washington, DC on March 4, 2026, joining regional leaders to discuss economic development, infrastructure investment, and the TVC’s upcoming National Summit. The TVC brings together stakeholders from government, industry, and academia to strengthen the region’s competitiveness and support long-term growth. McCall’s participation reinforced Seven States’ commitment to collaborating with regional partners to ensure the Valley’s energy systems continue to support economic expansion and community prosperity. During this visit, McCall also met with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service staff to discuss additional federal financing opportunities that could support energy development across the Tennessee Valley. The conversation focused on Seven States’ request for nearly $6 billion in funding to acquire natural gas generation resources across the Valley. An additional $320 million could support distribution-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), helping utilities strengthen grid reliability and modernization of the region’s power infrastructure. By strengthening relationships with federal leaders and advocating for policies that support growing energy demands in the Valley, McCall reinforced Seven States’ commitment to reliable, affordable and abundant power supply. McCall plans to attend the TVC's National Summit on May 28-29, 2026 in Chattanooga, TN to highlight the region's growth for economic prosperity.
By Jessica Bradshaw April 7, 2026
Seven States President & CEO, Betsey Kirk McCall, spent time at the Tennessee State Capitol on February 4, 2026, meeting with legislators including members of the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and the House Commerce Committee. A central focus of the meetings was providing an update on Seven States’ Energy Express project, an initiative designed to support growth in the Tennessee Valley with 220MW of battery storage. This project will be funded with a $439 million award by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (USDA RUS) New ERA program. McCall shared how Seven States will leverage federal financing opportunities, such as their USDA award of $439 million along with access to additional federal funds, to build or acquire generation and capacity to meet energy demand across the region, particularly as TVA navigates its debt constraints. She updated the legislators on how funding available to Seven States complements and amplifies TVA’s efforts to maintain a reliable energy system. By pairing federal financing with regional expertise in project deployment, Seven States can help utilities of all sizes move energy projects forward. The Seven States team also successfully engaged in state-level advocacy efforts to help stop proposed legislation that would have imposed an additional tax on electric vehicle (EV) charging. Working alongside partners and stakeholders, Seven States communicated to lawmakers how the proposed tax could create unnecessary barriers to EV infrastructure development and slow innovation within Tennessee’s evolving energy and transportation sectors. These advocacy efforts serve to refine and advance initiatives that impact a rapidly changing energy landscape. Together with partner LPCs, Seven States is building and energizing the grid of the future.
By Jessica Bradshaw April 7, 2026
Seven States Power Leadership traveled to Washington, D.C., February 23–25 to meet with members of the Tennessee Valley congressional delegation while attending the American Public Power Association (APPA) Legislative Rally with the nation’s public power electric utilities. Seven States Board Chair, Jeff Dykes, (CEO, BrightRidge) and President & CEO, Betsey Kirk McCall engaged with federal leaders to advocate for more power supply, educate on the flexible financing available to Seven States as a generation and transmission cooperative, and build relationships with federal representatives on key energy issues. A central focus of the meetings was providing an update on Seven States’ Energy Express project, an initiative designed to support growth in the Tennessee Valley with 220MW of additional capacity. This project will be funded with a $439 million award by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service. McCall and Dykes also led discussions highlighting how Seven States serves as an in-Valley solution to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s current debt constraint challenges. Through its financing capabilities, Seven States can own utility-scale power plants and double the impact of TVA’s capital investments, thereby expanding production and modernizing grid infrastructure. McCall and Dykes worked to educate policymakers about how aligning objectives and encouraging the use of Seven States as a mechanism for short- and mid-term financing solutions can unleash American energy faster. McCall plans to attend the NRECA Legislative Conference April 26 – 28 in Washington D.C. to continue these efforts with the nation’s electric cooperatives.
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