VEC Advocates for Local Communities During Day on the Hill

Electric cooperative leaders from across the state gathered in Nashville on Tuesday, Feb. 18, through Wednesday, Feb. 19, for the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s 2025 Legislative Conference. Directors and staff from Volunteer Energy Cooperative (VEC) joined more than 150 other electric co-op members and employees to learn about pressing legislation that will impact electric co-ops, the communities they serve and the General Assembly.

“Electric co-ops are important to the communities we serve,” Ryan King, vice president of government affairs for the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, says. “In order to successfully serve our communities, it is important to tell the electric cooperative story and educate lawmakers about the impact of proposed legislation. Keeping rates low is a major priority for electric co-ops. It is critical that we monitor the impacts of legislation and regulatory actions to remain good stewards of the resources with which we have been entrusted.”

On Wednesday, co-op leaders were able to meet with their legislators in the Cordell Hull State Office Building during the day on the hill and stress the important role co-ops play in their communities.

“This event is an important part of our mission to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy to our communities,” says Dion Cooper, VEC President and CEO. “We go to Nashville to help lawmakers understand the real-world impacts of legislation and to advocate for our co-op members. We appreciate all the legislators who took time to hear from us.”

VEC representatives meet with Senator Adam Lowe during this year’s Legislative Conference.