At Arab Electric Cooperative, General Manager Stacey White’s approach to serving members centers on investing in the future while addressing today’s needs. We asked her to elaborate on her LPC’s prioritized infrastructure improvements and technological advancements that are making a difference for her community. Modernizing our electrical infrastructure and giving our members better access to information has made the biggest difference. At Arab Electric, we've invested millions of dollars in upgrading substations, increasing capacity, and improving reliability. At the same time, technology has changed the way we communicate with our members. They can now monitor their daily electric usage, pay their bills through our app, report outages by text, and follow restoration progress through our outage map. For me, modernization isn't just about having the latest technology. It's about making life easier for our members, keeping the lights on, and making sure our system is ready for future growth. When I became General Manager, we had some aging infrastructure that needed significant attention. We made the decision to invest in the future of our system, even though those investments came with a substantial price tag. Our Brashears Chapel project more than doubled capacity, and we've continued that progress with Sundown, Brindlee Mountain, and our other system improvements. What makes me most proud isn't just the technology or the equipment. It's our employees. Our team has worked incredibly hard to make these improvements while continuing to provide reliable service every day. We aren't just building a stronger electric system for today. We're building one that will serve our community for the next generation. White also shared about the value of Seven States as a trusted partner to help LPCs explore new opportunities and ideas, no matter the size or scope of the project or technology. One of the things I appreciate about Seven States is their willingness to help local power companies look ahead and explore opportunities that we may not have the resources or expertise to pursue on our own. As a smaller utility, we have to be very intentional about where we invest our time and money. Having partners who understand our industry, help us evaluate new technologies, and bring innovative ideas to the table is extremely valuable. Innovation doesn't always mean being the first to try something. Sometimes it's about having the right partners to help you make the right decisions for your members. Even as utilities embrace new technologies and digital tools, White knows that people are still and will always be the heartbeat of the Valley.  Good old-fashioned customer service and the personal relationships we build with our members will always be the most important part of what we do. Technology can help us identify outages faster, improve communication, and make our operations more efficient. But at the end of the day, when someone's power is out or they have a concern, they still want to know there's a real person who cares and is willing to help. And no matter how advanced our technology becomes, we're still going to need dedicated linemen willing to go out in the middle of the night, in the rain, cold, and storms, to restore power. Technology may change how we do our jobs, but it will never replace the people or the heart behind what we do. In an industry built on serving communities and staying connected to the people behind the meters, White appreciates those who use their influence to make a difference. So, when we asked who she’d most like to share a dinner with, one iconic name came to mind. I think I would have chosen Dolly Parton. She was a successful businesswoman who stayed true to her roots and never forgot where she came from. I always admired how she used her success to help others. And honestly, I think she would have been a whole lot of fun to have dinner with!

GUNTERSVILLE, AL — October 2, 2026 — Electric Board of Guntersville and the City of Guntersville, in partnership with Seven States Power Corporation, today celebrated the ribbon cutting and official unveiling of a new battery energy storage system (BESS) and two electric vehicle (EV) charging ports at the Guntersville Senior Center. The project represents an investment in reliability, emergency preparedness and modern energy infrastructure for the Guntersville community. The battery system is designed to provide backup power to the Senior Center during outages, helping the facility continue serving residents when reliable electricity is needed most. The addition of battery storage will also enable the Senior Center to meet critical emergency preparedness requirements for designation as a FEMA shelter, strengthening its ability to serve residents during severe weather and other emergency events. “This project is about putting innovative technology to work in a way that directly benefits the people we serve,” said Jason Kirkland, General Manager of Electric Board of Guntersville. “By adding battery storage and EV charging at the Senior Center, we are investing in infrastructure that supports reliability today while preparing our community for the needs of tomorrow.” The City of Guntersville partnered with Electric Board of Guntersville and Seven States to bring a 261kWh battery energy storage system (BESS) to the Senior Center, supporting an investment that strengthens the facility’s role as a vital community resource and enhances its ability to serve residents during emergencies. The battery unit will store energy during off-peak hours and be used as necessary to supply power to the facility during an outage or to deploy power for up to 2 hours back onto the Guntersville electric grid. The two new EV charging ports complement the battery installation by expanding access to charging infrastructure for residents and visitors. Together, the technologies demonstrate how community-scale energy projects can provide practical benefits while helping local power companies modernize infrastructure. “What makes this project special is its purpose. This battery is more than a piece of energy infrastructure, it provides another tool to help Guntersville care for its residents and keep an important community facility powered when it matters most,” said Guntersville Mayor Leigh Dollar. “Seven States was created to help local power companies turn opportunities like this into projects that deliver meaningful benefits in their communities,” said Betsey Kirk McCall, President & CEO of Seven States Power Corporation. The Guntersville project is part of Seven States’ broader work with local power companies across the Tennessee Valley to develop and finance energy infrastructure tailored to local needs.