Tennessee Gov. Bill HaslamABOUT TRAThe Tennessee Regulatory Authority’s mission is to “promote the public interest by balancing the interests of utility consumers and providers while facilitating the transition to a more competitive environment,” according to its website. It does this by setting rates for regulated utilities, such as electricity, water and natural gas, and maintaining consumer assistance programs.State lawmakers this year changed the agency’s governance from a four-person, full-time board to a five-person, part-time board and a full-time executive director.
NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Haslam’s newly reorganized Tennessee Regulatory Authority is off but not running since the governor and legislative leaders failed to appoint an executive and a quorum of directors by July 1.
Meanwhile, a six-month clock is already ticking on Tennessee American Water’s June 1 request to hike Chattanooga’s water rates by nearly 25 percent.
The TRA must decide on the request no later than November or the $10.5 million increase automatically will take effect.
Gas utilities Atmos Energy Corp. and Navitas, which operate in other parts of the state, filed rate-increase requests with the TRA on June 22 and July 2, respectively.