Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES), in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), is proud to announce the official ribbon cutting and energization of the South Bristol Delivery Point Substation, a major infrastructure project located along Highway 394 in Bristol, Tennessee.
This new substation represents a significant investment in the reliability, availability, and future resiliency of electric power for BTES customers throughout the region.
“Today is the culmination of years of strategic planning and collaboration,” said BTES CEO Clayton Dowell. “We plan projects many years in advance, and this substation is one of those critical investments. Our team identified the need for additional power supply to keep pace with growing demand and ensure we continue to provide the highest quality service to our customers.”
The substation is strategically located near the Bristol Business Park and Partnership Park II, positioning it as a key driver of continued industrial and economic development in the region. It joins two existing 161 kV delivery points – one located in Bluff City, and one located in Blountville – to enhance the overall stability and capacity of BTES’ electric system.
“In addition, there continues to be significant interest in bringing new industries to the area and existing industries expanding,” Dowell added. “Having infrastructure in place that can meet those needs quickly fuels job creation and economic diversification.”
As part of the overall project, TVA constructed over 14 miles of new transmission power lines to support the new substation and ensure system-wide reliability.
“The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that electricity needs will steadily increase in the next few decades,” said Nate Schweighart, TVA General Manager, Transmission Planning. “TVA, and our local power company partners like BTES, are building tomorrow together through affordable, reliable, and resilient power for the Tennessee Valley region. The new BTES South Bristol Substation plays a vital role in supporting the growing industrial load in the Sullivan County area.”
The ribbon cutting ceremony celebrates the successful completion of this joint effort and marks a new chapter in providing robust and future-ready energy infrastructure for the region.
