Skip to main content
Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

TVA engineer of the year pioneers transmission technology

Transmission lines like TVA's high-voltage lines near Chickamauga Dam are part of the 450,000-mile U.S. power grid.
Transmission lines like TVA's high-voltage lines near Chickamauga Dam are part of the 450,000-mile U.S. power grid. Transmission lines like TVA's high-voltage lines near Chickamauga Dam are part of the 450,000-mile U.S. power grid.

By Dave Flessner 2 min read

photo Jeff Phillips of TVA

Engineers for the Tennessee Valley Authority pioneered the world’s first 500-kilovolt transmission line in 1965.

Nearly a half century later, TVA Engineer Jeffrey Phillips achieved another industry first for TVA by engineering the first 500-kilovolt transmission line using a new aluminum conductor composite reinforced cable over one of TVA’s reservoirs. The unique design helped the utility save $851,000 and on Thursday helped Phillips achieve the top engineering award for any federal employee in the Tennessee Valley.

Phillips, a senior design engineer for the power transmission system, was recognized by the TVA board Thursday as this year’s winner of the Ike Zeringue Engineer of the Year. Zeringue, a former chief operating officer for TVA for whom the annual honor is named praised Phillips for his work on 28 transmission projects that have helped TVA distribute its power across the utility’s 7-state region.

A TVA employee since 2001, Phillips has been a lead engineer for new delivery points, power line uprates, modifications for highway improvements and storm restoration projects. Over the past three years, he has engineered projects worth $39 million and covering 170 miles of line design.

Phillips also coordinated a valley-wide switch training, repair and inventory program that realized $267,000 in savings through salvage and reuse of switch parts.