Benton County Electric System Ribbon Cutting

CAMDEN, Tenn. – Through a partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), TDEC, the Benton County Electric System, Country & Western and Seven States Power Corporation, BCES has brought an EV charging station to Benton County.

Benton County Electric System has installed a fast charger location at Country & Western (314 Highway 641 North, Camden, TN 38320) as part of Fast Charge TN, a partnership between the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), and Seven States Power Corporation. This Fast Charge TN installation is part of the regional Fast Charge Network that will cover major travel corridors across TVA’s seven-state service area and will complement the broader efforts of the National Electric Highway Coalition, which seeks to enable long-distance EV travel by placing fast chargers along interstates and major highways throughout the United States.

“We are thrilled to bring EV fast chargers to Benton County, marking a significant step forward for our community,” said Scott Owens, General Manager of Benton County Electric System (BCES). “This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support from Dee and Roy Dedmon at Country and Western, as well as our valued partners at TVA, TDEC, and Seven States Power Corporation and our team at BCES. Together, we are paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future for Benton County. The funding from TVA and TDEC make it possible to add fast chargers in our community by providing 80% of the project cost.”

TVA and TDEC have brought together local power companies, state and local government partners, and others to pave the way for over 200,000 EVs on Tennessee Valley roads by 2028. The benefits that EVs bring to the Tennessee Valley region are significant:

Attracting good jobs — $13.8 billion in EV and battery manufacturing have helped create over 10,000 EV-related jobs. Reinvesting $120 million in the local economy every year from electric refueling. Saving drivers up to $1,000 in fuel and maintenance costs every year. In 2024, there are a total of over 80 Electric and/or Hybrid vehicles registered in Benton County.

To learn more about the Fast Charge Network, calculate how much money an EV could save you or locate EV charging stations on your travel route, check out https://energyright.com/ev/.

“Seven States is trusted by local power companies across the Tennessee Valley to deliver EV charging technology for their consumers,” said Betsey Kirk McCall, President and CEO of Seven States Power Corporation. “Impactful partnerships like this benefit the local community, regional economy and global environment for years to come.”

Learn more about Fast Charge TN here: www.tn.gov/EVFastCharge.

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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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