BrightRidge – Your Community Energy & Broadband Provider
Learn More About BrightRidge
BrightRidge is your local, not-for-profit public electric utility. Originally known as Johnson City Power Board, we’ve been delivering electric services in this region since 1945. Now known as BrightRidge since 2017, we have a new innovative mission with the addition of our internet division, BrightRidge Broadband.
Our mission is to empower our customers’ connection to the world by offering efficient, reliable energy and connective services, while promoting community growth and economic development. And that’s what you’ll see our over 200 employees doing every day in the communities, counties and cities we’re privileged to serve here in northeast Tennessee.
BrightRidge serves over 83,000 customers in Washington, Sullivan, Carter and Greene counties. It is the 10th largest local power within the Tennessee Valley Authority service area.
Our History
Serving Our Community for Over 100 Years
Built in 1888 by James F. Crumley, the original electric plant was succeeded by the Watauga Lighting and Power Company as early as 1891. On August 1, 1902, the Johnson City-Jonesborough Electric Light and Power Company purchased the Watauga Lighting & Power Company.
About 1911, a hydroelectric power plant on the Nolichucky River near Greeneville was built and the electric companies operating in Greeneville, Jonesborough, and Johnson City were purchased. A transmission line was built from the hydroelectric plant to bring a power supply to these cities and, thus, the Tennessee Eastern Electric Company was born. The Tennessee Eastern Electric Company continued to expand through the years adding a steam plant at Watauga, Tennessee in 1921 and raising the height of the dam on the Nolichucky River in 1925.
In 1929, a new corporation, East Tennessee Light & Power Company, was formed to take over the electrical distribution. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) acquired the East Tennessee Light and Power Company early in 1945. On March 2, 1945, a contract between the City of Johnson City and the TVA was executed whereby TVA would be the electric distributor for this area.
By Resolution of the City of Johnson City on June 18, 1945, at 7pm, authorized City Officials to execute and deliver to the TVA a definite Contract, captioned “Sale Agreement” for the purchase by Johnson City from or through said Authority of an electric distribution system serving portions of Washington, Sullivan, Greene, and Carter Counties, and the Johnson City Power Board was formed.
In March 2017, Johnson City leaders advocated for state legislation to adopt a new, more flexible business format, which resulted in a modern energy authority charter. Following this charter, the Johnson City Power Board became the Johnson City Energy Authority.
On Tuesday, October 3, 2017, at a special-called Board Meeting, the Johnson City Power Board changed its name to BrightRidge. BrightRidge remains a not-for-profit, local power company.
Partners & Affiliations
With gratitude, we acknowledge the expertise of our utility partners and affiliations. We could not succeed in our mission without their support.
TVA
BrightRidge is one of 153 power companies throughout Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Virginia, and Kentucky who purchase electricity from TVA. BrightRidge distributes electricity to approximately 78,600 metered locations throughout our service area. BrightRidge is the tenth largest power distributor among TVA’s service area. Memphis ranks as the largest with more than 400,000 meters served.
APPA
The American Public Power Association (APPA) is the service organization for more than 2,000 community-owned electric utilities that serve millions of customers throughout the US. It was created in 1940 as a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Its purpose is to advance public policy interests of members and consumers, as well as provide member services to ensure safe, reliable electricity at reasonable prices while protecting the environment.
TVPPA
The Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, Inc. (TVPPA) is a non-profit, regional service organization that represents interests of consumer-owned electric utilities operating within the TVA service area. The TVPPA members include both municipal and electric cooperatives, and they serve more than 8.5 million customers in the following states: Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia.
TMEPA
The Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association (TMEPA) is a membership association of 59 municipal and county electric power providers that serve over 2.4 million homes and businesses across Tennessee. TMEPA members serve two-thirds of the electric customers in Tennessee and distribute three-quarters of the power sold in the state.