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2 3 4 s INSIDE t h i ISSUE ARTICLES ADVERTISERS 6 President’s Message Inside Front CGS, Inc 7 Executive Director’s Message 3 Martin Contracting 8 Community Involvement 4 USI Consulting 10-11 Member News 9 Powell & Meadows Insurance 13 TGA Educational Calendar 12 Energy Worldnet 16 Did You Know 14 B.H. Holmes Construction 18 Energy Efficient Schools 14 J.B. Gibbs & Son Initiative 17 Consolidated Pipe & Supply 18 State Energy Policy Council 19 Clark Engineering & Utility Solutions 19 Underground Utility Damage 24-25Tri-Star Energy Consultants Prevention Enforcement Board 37 Tri-State Meter & Regulator 20-21Scholarship Foundation 37 Blankenship CPA Group 22-23 Business, Accounting & 37 James N. Bush Construction Professional Development 42 G&C Supply 26-27 Fall Management Conference 44 SJ Patterson Company 28-29 New Business Partners 46 Jackson Thornton 30-32 TGA Member Spotlights Inside Back Central Service Association 34-36 Committee Communications Back Cover Team Construction 38-39 Legislative Event 41 D & O Conference 43 Customer Service Workshops 45 Annual Meeting 2020 TGA NEWS is a publication of the Tennessee Gas Association. If you have information for the TGA Newsletter: please submit for the NEXT ISSUE Send to: Kelley Zamboni, Editor E-mail: [email protected] 5 In many ways, it is hard to On the legislave front, I would believe that we’ve entered a new like to highlight two pieces of legislaon decade. Not long ago, the year 2020 that will greatly benefit the gas industry seemed like the distant future where we in Tennessee. Through the hard work of would own flying cars and wear funny the Legislave Commiee and our looking futurisc clothes. My vision of lobbyist, Jim Spears, TGA has introduced everyday life in the future didn’t the “All Fuels” Ulity Act. The purpose of materialize, but the current state of the this legislaon is to preempt a local natural gas industry is beer in many municipality from passing an ordinance ways than anyone would have imagined that would give one fuel or energy 20 or 30 years ago. Supply is ample, source preferenal treatment in new demand is robust, and prices are at construcon. This is an area of great mulyear lows. This doesn’t mean that concern for all in the natural gas industry BRAXTON WILLIAMS the industry does not have challenges to as we have seen several cies face, parcularly from the throughout the country pass ordinances legislave and regulatory that effecvely remove consumer choice fronts. I would like to and ban the ulizaon of natural gas in highlight a few ways in which newly constructed homes. the Tennessee Gas Associaon In addion to the “All Fuels” Act, is working to meet these legislaon has been introduced to challenges. strengthen Tennessee’s Underground Over the last three Damage Prevenon Law. A few years, TGA leadership has highlights of proposed changes include: taken a proacve approach in Creaon of “Damage Noce” for building a stronger TN811 FROM THE PRESIDENT relaonship with the Requirement for “Hand Digging” or Tennessee Public Ulies other approved method of Commission, Gas Pipeline Safety. excavaon within the tolerance zone 2020 Execuve Commiee & Through open dialogue with Bryce Increase in the maximum penales Board of Directors Meengs Keener and his staff, TGA’s Educaonal that can be levied by the Steering Commiee has tailored training Underground Ulity Damage Tuesday, February 18 opportunies to educate members on Greater Dickson Gas Authority Enforcement Board 10:00 a.m. ‐ Noon Execuve Commiee Mtg the most relevant regulatory concerns in Noon – 1:00p.m. Board of Directors Lunch the industry. Their feedback helps I would encourage all members 1:00 ‐ 3:00 p.m. Board of Directors Meeng connue the success of the outstanding to engage in the legislave process with 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Scholarship Foundaon Board Meeng D&O, Customer Service, Business & TGA. Parcipate on the weekly Accounng, and Fall Management legislave update calls, lobby your local Monday, April 20 elected officials, and support the TGA D&O Embassy Suites, Murfreesboro Conferences as well as the Safety Summit Noon Execuve Commiee Meeng and Annual Meeng. Again this year, PAC Fund. It takes all of us working 3:00‐5:00 p.m. Board of Directors Meeng TGA is working with TPUC to offer one‐ together to ensure a bright future for the natural gas industry in the State of Sunday, June 14 day regional training classes taught by Annual Meeng Wesn, Chaanooga TPUC staff on this year’s inspecon Tennessee. (tentave mes) focus, “Valves, Leak Survey, and Noon Execuve Commiee Meeng It is an honor to serve as your 2:30‐4:30 p.m. Board of Directors Meeng Patrolling.” TGA also plans to offer President of the Tennessee Gas 5:00‐6:00 p.m. Scholarship Foundaon Brd Mtg addional regional training opportunies Associaon. related to leak invesgaon, regulators and pipeline safety compliance. 6 The new fiscal year of TGA begins The Annual Meeng Commiee is and with it comes a full calendar for our full steam ahead finalizing the finishing members. Your TGA commiees are hard at touches for its agenda. Don’t forget it is ZAMBONI work for the beerment of TGA members. never too early to book your hotel room for First up is the Legislave Breakfast the Annual Meeng being held at the Wesn KELLEY being held on March 17th at the Cordell Hull in Chaanooga. The deadline for the TGA Building in Nashville. Please reach out to hotel rate is May 23rd. This great city has so your Legislator and encourage them to much to offer right here in our own backyard. aend. My hope is that TGA members will Take a moment to explore the acvies that take advantage of this me to further the await you and your family June 15‐17. efforts of the natural gas industry. TGA The Safety Summit is set August 3‐5 members register on the website. The at Montgomery Bell State Park. The Legislators were invited via email. commiee is acvely planning the The D & O Commiee has put conferences agenda. together another highly educaonal The Educaon Steering conference set for April 21‐23 at the Embassy Commiee has a full training Suites Hotel in Murfreesboro, TN. calendar laid out for the The Customer Service Commiee membership. The full training developed an intriguing agenda for the two 1‐ calendar can be found in this day workshops being offered. The first newsleer as well as on the TGA workshop will be held at Jackson Energy website. The Fall Management Authority on May 5th followed by the second Conference is set for October 6‐7 idencal workshop held at Sevier County and the Business, Accounng & Ulity District. Both D &O and Customer Professional Development FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Service Regional Workshop registraons are Conference is set for October 7‐ open. 8. The Conferences will be held The Markeng Commiee has jointly at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Upcoming Events assisted Jamie and me on making Knoxville, TN. improvements to the newsleer which we Read more about the acvies of hope you enjoy and appreciate. The your commiees and meeng details in March 17 Legislave Breakfast ~ Nashville, TN newsleer is a work in progress; over the the Commiee Communicaon secon of April 21‐22 next couple of issues we will connue to the newsleer. D & O Conference ~ Murfreesboro, TN make enhancements offering addional Jamie and I have been hard at May 5 informaon. You will see we have changed work on the TGA website. We are making Customer Service ~ Jackson, TN the Member News secon. If your company much needed improvements and May 19 has “big” announcements please submit organizing informaon so that it is not Customer Service ~ Sevierville, TN those to Jamie or myself and we will do our only relevant to our members but easier June 15‐17 T best to get them into the next newsleer. to find. The launch is set for late spring Annual Meeng ~ Chaanooga, TN Please keep in mind that submissions could early summer so watch for August 3‐5 Safety Summit ~ Burns, TN be edited to meet space allowed. Another announcements soon with details October 6‐7 addion is a TGA Member Spotlight piece explaining all of the aspects of the new Fall Management Conference where we will highlight a West, Middle, and site. Knoxville, TN East TN member gas system. The commiee I am excited about the coming October 7‐8 members call and interview systems in each year for TGA and all that we have to offer Business, Accounng & area. Please take a moment to learn more our members and I hope you are as well. Professional Development Conference about your natural gas neighbor. Knoxville, TN 7 HOW IS YOUR COMPANY IMPACTING YOUR COMMUNITY? By: Madison Endres, WTPUD & TGA Markeng Commiee Member At the West Tennessee natural gas ad that included a impact on how the company is Public Ulity District (WTPUD) our photo of one of our county mayors viewed. mission is to strive to be public and his family promong natural Lastly, we believe it is servants. We have recently gas heat. Ulizing well respected extremely important to be acve in established the following mission members of our community in community events. Parcipang in statement. “We exist to provide adversing, we believe, sends the events across our coverage area cost effecve, uninterrupted message that we are for our people really adds to our involvement and natural gas to as many as possible and are well infused into the fabric shows we are commied to the in our coverage area.