By John Howell Sr.

As Congress was finally agreeing on a bailout plan Friday, October 3, officials at Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association (TVEPA) ended one fiscal year and began another with the cooperative’s annual meeting.

Though the meeting coincided with an announced 17-percent increase in the price of electricity due to a fuel cost adjustment from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), only a few members of the public attended and none spoke when given opportunity to bring up new business not addressed on the meeting’s agenda.

TVEPA general manager Brad Robison pledged “delaying any rate increases that benefit Tallahatchie Valley.”

“Tallahatchie Valley does not get any benefit from this increase,” he said, referring to TVA’s fuel cost adjustment.

Robison outlined an austere plan for the member-owned electric cooperative’s year.

“We’re trying to pay as we go and not borrow any money for our long-term construction projects,” he said.

TVEPA’s new fiscal year will see “full-time line inspectors trying to be more proactive, trying to find problems before they happen,” Robison continued.

“We try to design and plan the system to withstand high winds, rain, and lightning, but the Lord keeps us humble,” the general manager said.

TVEPA board president Will Hays opened the meeting, announcing that 7.45 percent of proxies had been returned, a sufficient number to allow the selection of three directors whose terms had expired.

Harry B. House, Robert I. Chapman and Danny R. Ingram were re-elected to their posts by acclamation.