Chris Davis knows how crucial innovative partnerships and technology are in preparing for the grid of the future.

Chris has led Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC) as general manager for six years with a deep understanding of technological diversity and strategic partnerships. We asked him to share some of the ways he has brought innovation to his LPC footprint, as well as his experience with Seven States as a trusted partner.

“We’ve taken steps to boost innovation in our territory, but taking advantage of voltage reduction measures have worked especially well for us and elevated our demand-side management to the next level. We have previously worked with Seven States on exploring solar, but currently, we're looking at battery storage and are partnering with them to progress in that journey. Seven States has been wonderful in helping us with information and a world of questions that we have had, both technical and philosophical— really ensuring that we find the technology that’s right for our LPC. We’re new at this, and the Seven States team has come through with some great answers to walk us through everything.”

Chris always considers how his members view CEMC’s investments in innovation.

“I want our members to know that we are constantly looking at ways to improve reliability with innovation. We want to make sure that new ideas and technologies are a good fit for the membership and the community. You always have to find the right mix, but we strive to keep the door open to opportunity and exploring what can help improve the life of our folks. That will always be our goal.”



With his 41 years of industry experience, Chris has learned that being plugged into your community and knowing their needs is fundamental to being an innovative leader. He offered this advice to general managers who might have questions about how to start bringing innovation to their LPC.

“My advice is to always evaluate the needs of the LPC and what works and what doesn't. What we found to be helpful is surveying the membership and asking about their interests. We ask questions that lead us in the direction of finding out what they need, and then deciding how we can accomplish that. And hopefully for both of those, the answer is the same: what's good for the LPC’s needs is also good for the membership.”