Chris Jones, President & CEO, Middle Tennessee Electric

In an interview with Invest:, Chris Jones, president and CEO of Middle Tennessee Electric, discussed the region’s sustained growth and its impact on electricity demand, emphasized the importance of collaboration with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to address generation capacity, and talked about the importance of nuclear energy for the state. “Nuclear energy is a critical component of Tennessee’s energy strategy,” he said.

How has growth in Middle Tennessee translated into demand for electricity, and do you expect any significant shifts in the coming years?

The growth rate we are seeing is very similar to what we have experienced since the pandemic. Pre-pandemic growth was strong, but we have seen greater growth post-pandemic, albeit by a slight margin. We expect this pace to continue into 2026. It is interesting how we always predict a slowdown, but we do not have any indication of that happening. We have a lot of work in the pipeline across our system, with strong projected growth in every county we serve. This trend is consistent across Middle Tennessee and the Greater Nashville area.

From the standpoint of Middle Tennessee Electric, as a distribution company, we are accustomed to this pace. If the growth rate stays the same, our greater concern is around overall generation capacity, which we depend on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for. TVA is a great partner, but we have seen a strain on generation capacity in recent years, especially during peak demand. We must continue to encourage TVA to increase its generation capacity to meet the growing demands, particularly for larger prospects looking to come to our area. These prospects include industries like healthcare, entertainment, auto manufacturing, and emerging sectors like AI and data centers. 

What is Middle Tennessee Electric doing to adapt to the rise in demand due to the increased use of data centers to ensure reliability and capacity?

From the standpoint of our distribution system, we depend on TVA for generation and transmission. TVA is our power partner, and we operate under a public power model unique to our region. TVA generates and transmits power to local power companies like Middle Tennessee Electric, and we distribute it. We are all in this together, but we need TVA to increase its generation capacity to meet growing demand. We are working closely with TVA to ensure this happens. This will likely involve expanding traditional generation resources like natural gas-fired generation, but I am particularly excited about the prospects of increased nuclear generation. Tennessee has been a leader in nuclear energy, and we encourage TVA to explore next-generation nuclear energy capacity to meet future demand.

Can you expand on the role nuclear energy is playing in Tennessee’s long-term energy strategy, and how might that influence your approach to future power sourcing?

Nuclear energy is a critical component of Tennessee’s energy strategy. Currently, more than 40% of the electricity generated in the Tennessee Valley comes from nuclear resources, which is a relatively high percentage compared to the national average. We are proud of this achievement, and the existing nuclear plants operated by the TVA will continue to operate for many decades.

Tennessee has a rich history in nuclear energy, not only through TVA but also through Oak Ridge, which played a pivotal role in the Manhattan Project during World War II. Today, Oak Ridge is growing as a hub for nuclear energy innovation, with over 200 companies in Tennessee supporting the nuclear energy industry.

TVA is developing what could be the first next-generation small modular reactor (SMR) in the United States. These SMRs take the concept of large nuclear plants and scale them down, making the process repeatable, faster, and more cost-effective. TVA aims to build multiple SMRs across the Tennessee Valley, and Middle Tennessee Electric fully supports this initiative. SMRs provide carbon-free, baseload electricity generation, which is essential for meeting future energy demands. Alongside renewable energy, nuclear power is a key part of our strategy to power our lives and businesses sustainably.

How has electrification as a major trend evolved over the past year and what opportunities are emerging in that space?

Not much has changed in the past year. We still expect electrification to be a significant trend. For example, Nissan, our largest customer, is considering significant investments to convert on-site natural gas-powered equipment, such as paint shops, to electric-powered systems. Industries are increasingly looking to reduce their carbon footprint, and electrification is a key part of that transition. We are preparing for more industries to move from on-site fuels like oil and gas to electricity, which will require us to meet higher demand.

How much of a concern is cybersecurity for electric utilities, and how can federal initiatives help bridge any gaps?

Cybersecurity is a significant concern for electric utility leaders, and it is one of the things that keeps me up at night. Ensuring the safety of our team and protecting the systems we own, as well as the information of our members and employees, is essential. To address the cybersecurity challenge, we must invest in both technology and people. We need individuals who are well-trained and capable of managing these systems and processes to stay ahead of bad actors.

During my Congressional testimony in early 2025, I emphasized the difficulty of securing adequate human resources in the cybersecurity field. The federal government estimates there are more than 500,000 vacancies across the country in cybersecurity-related roles. This is a substantial gap, and the talent pool is not deep enough to meet the demand. Rural electric co-ops, in particular, face unique challenges. For example, if you are a co-op in a sparsely populated area, attracting credentialed cybersecurity experts is incredibly difficult due to the lack of a local talent pool.

Federal initiatives can play a critical role in addressing this issue. Former Rep. Mark Green introduced the PIVOT Act. This proposal aims to allow two-year colleges to certify cybersecurity experts, enabling individuals to pivot into this career path. This includes young professionals, military veterans, and others seeking a new direction. The goal is to open opportunities for these certified individuals to work in government and rural infrastructure roles, where the need is greatest. We strongly support this initiative and hope it moves forward.

What is your three-year outlook for Middle Tennessee, and what are some top priorities for your team going forward?

Over the next three years, we expect growth in Middle Tennessee to continue at a pace that is similar to that of the past five years, which has been strong and consistent. We will continue to work closely with TVA to ensure we have adequate generation capacity to meet both existing and future demand, particularly as we engage in economic development opportunities.

We anticipate robust economic development, including increased interest from data center operators. To support this growth, we must collaborate with TVA to ensure we can meet the rising energy demand. Additionally, we will continue to leverage technology to enhance our operations, with a particular focus on cybersecurity.

Our primary focus, however, remains on delivering world-class member satisfaction. Our vision is to consistently rank in the Top 5% of JD Power’s residential electric industry survey. Currently, we are in the Top 7%, so we are working diligently to improve and achieve that goal. Everything we do is centered around providing exceptional service to our members while ensuring reliability, affordability, and sustainability in our energy solutions.