Interview with Erin Gill on Seven States’ New Product Offering, Reliability as a Service

Driven by economic growth, increased electrification, and ambitious renewable energy targets, demand for electricity has surged, but the supply has been challenged with aging infrastructure and evolving regulations.

Luckily, at Seven States, we have a lot of great minds working together to proactively address this challenge. Moreover, we are ramping up our rollout of battery energy storage solutions and backup generation in an effort to achieve 300MW of additional aggregate capacity across the Valley. We recently had the opportunity to gain insight on this important issue from industry expert and incoming Seven States board member, Erin Gill.

Gill currently serves as Vice President of Sustainability & Government Relations at Knoxville Utilities Board. As she assumes a role on the Seven States Board of Directors, we asked her to reflect on a few questions about Seven States’ Reliability as a Service as we close out 2024 and look forward to 2025.

Why do you think it’s important to focus on Reliability Services, specifically Battery Energy Storage Solutions (BESS), at this point in time?

Battery storage is increasingly emerging as a critical resource for local power companies aiming to enhance energy reliability, especially during peak demand periods. By deploying battery storage systems, local power companies can manage fluctuations in electricity demand more effectively, store excess energy generated during low-demand periods, and release it when demand surges. This not only helps stabilize the grid but also reduces the need for expensive peak power purchases. Battery energy storage solutions also allow local power companies to improve resilience by maintaining service during outages or disruptions, which is especially valuable in regions prone to extreme weather events or grid vulnerabilities.

Is it possible to scale this solution and, if so, what does that mean for how we build and connect to the grid of the future?

As battery technology advances, scalability becomes more achievable, making it a viable option for power companies of all sizes. Implementing battery storage solutions can also support the integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar, by storing intermittent energy and providing a reliable backup when these sources are not actively generating. This synergy between battery storage and renewables enables local power companies to expand clean energy use without compromising on stability or reliability. Moreover, battery storage offers long-term cost-saving potential by reducing dependence on non-renewable peaking plants and minimizing transmission losses, ultimately benefiting both utilities and customers with cleaner, more stable energy options.

What role is Seven States playing in designing, developing, and deploying these technologies into the energy ecosystem?

It was exciting to see the BESS unit installed at Montgomery Bell State Park during our Annual Meeting. This unit, and others like it, demonstrate what is possible as we connect these solutions to the grid. Building on the efforts of early projects like EV chargers, solar canopies, solar consulting, and microgrids, Seven States is using what they have learned to grow and scale these solutions faster. At KUB, we’ve appreciated Seven States’ support for several local efforts to adopt new types of technologies and meet the needs of our customers today with an eye toward the future.

Do you have any closing thoughts about what NOT developing and deploying these technologies means to the energy industry?

Energy technologies and customer needs are evolving rapidly, and electric utilities in the Valley must be ready to incorporate new practices and technologies in order to ensure we can continue to meet growing demand while keeping energy services affordable and reliable. Renewable energy, battery storage, demand response, and other distributed energy resources aren’t just “nice to haves.” Utilized strategically, these resources can be cheaper and more nimble than more traditional energy resources. By using them wisely, LPCs can help keep energy affordable while providing ancillary benefits for local infrastructure and for utility customers. It is for all of these reasons that Seven States plays a vital role at a critical juncture. The work they do allows LPCs to work simultaneous paths to efficient and effective solutions. Their partnership in the industry will help us all “keep the lights on.”

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Valley Update: Tennessee Valley Corridor & USDA

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.

State Update: Advocacy at the Tennessee State Capitol

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.

Federal Update: APPA Legislative Rally

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.