The Greeneville Energy Authority approved a resolution unanimously when it met Tuesday that adopts new TVA wholesale power rates for data centers, a move requested by TVA.
A Greeneville Sun reporter did not attend the meeting, but spoke with GEA Board Chairman Tim Teague and Dwayne Wells, the GEA president and CEO, on Wednesday about what transpired.
Teague said the rate category is projected to increase electricity usage rates for data centers that fall within TVA’s jurisdiction by an average of approximately 10 percent.
Teague emphasized that the TVA rate change is for data centers only, and that GEA will consider evaluating its own higher rates for data centers before, and if, any come to Greeneville.
“That will come later, if needed,” Teague stated on Wednesday of new GEA retail rates for data centers.
There are currently no data centers in Greene County, nor in the municipalities located within the county.
No rate increase for regular GEA customers was approved on Tuesday, Teague stated, nor would GEA allow a data center to use a lot of power and pass that cost on to regular GEA customers.
He also said that, should, for example, a data center requiring over five megawatts be b...