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Debate over adding county appointees to municipal power boards splits committee; HB2592 advances 12-9
Summary
Representative Boyd's bill to let counties with at least 3,500 customers appoint utility board members advanced on a 12-9 vote after extended debate. Municipal utilities' trade group warned of disproportionate representation for small outside ratepayer populations.
House Bill 25-92 drew extended debate and public testimony before advancing 12–9 to Finance, Ways and Means. Representative Boyd, the sponsor, said the bill gives county residents who receive electricity from a neighboring municipal or county-owned utility a seat at the governance table. "All this does is it gives them a seat on the board," Boyd said, arguing the change addresses arbitrary boundaries that leave outside customers without representation.
Jeremy Elrod of the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association testified in opposition, saying the legislation could produce disproportionate board composition. Elrod described restoration difficulties after recent winter storms and warned that adding outside appointees could result in boards where a small share of customers hold a substantial number of seats. Members traded examples of specific utilities and customer counts in committee, with some lawmakers arguing the measure was a needed voice for ratepayers and others saying it would unfairly dilute existing local control. After debate and a prior-question motion, the clerk reported a 12–9 vote to advance the bill to Finance, Ways and Means.
