Ripley Power & Light

What Ripley Power & Light does

Ripley Power and Light Company is a community-owned, not-for-profit municipal electric utility headquartered at 150 S. Main Street in Ripley, Tennessee, founded in 1935 and governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Ripley City Council. The utility distributes electricity purchased wholesale from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to approximately 6,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers across four communities in Lauderdale County: Ripley, Halls, Henning, and Gates. Power is received at three TVA delivery substations at 161,000 volts and stepped down to 13,200 volts for distribution across the company's transmission and distribution footprint.

The company's underlying technical platform includes 24/7 smart grid monitoring, a computer-based outage management system integrated with customer web-based outage reporting, and an owned dark fiber network providing redundant connectivity to outside networks via interconnections with Forked Deer Electric Cooperative, Dyersburg, and Southwest EMC. RPL also owns a fiber-to-the-premises broadband network that it leases to Aeneas Internet and Telephone, which markets gig-speed residential and business internet starting at $59.95/month with no data caps across Halls, Gates, and Curve.

RPL earns revenue primarily through monthly electricity sales on tiered residential and commercial rates, supplemented by recurring streams from prepay electricity ($60 deposit plus $50 minimum), LED security light leasing ($13.32/month on a 5-year lease), dark fiber B2B leasing, low-interest heat pump financing (up to 10 years, billed on the utility statement), and free TVA-funded energy management services. Customer distribution spans residential, commercial and industrial (C&I), and industrial site-seeker segments. The company holds the APPA Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) Diamond Level designation, achieved continuously since 2016, and has won the APPA Safety Award of Excellence for seven or more consecutive years. A 2025 Ripley TigerVolt solar microgrid pilot with NIHS, Resilience Energy and Infrastructure, and TVA extends the platform into distributed energy resources for emergency services.

Name

Ripley Power & Light

Legal name

Ripley Power and Light Company

Website

https://ripleypower.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ripley Power and Light is a community-owned municipal electric utility serving approximately 6,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Ripley, Halls, Henning, and Gates in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, distributing TVA-purchased power and offering dark fiber-based broadband through a partnership with Aeneas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ripley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Electricity Sales (Monthly Billing): Monthly electricity sales to approximately 6,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Revenue based on consumption (kWh) with tiered rate structures. About 82 cents of every dollar paid by customers goes to purchase energy from TVA.
2. Prepay Electricity Program: Prepay billing option where customers pay in advance for electricity. Requires $60 deposit and minimum $50 initial purchase. Revenue recognized as electricity is consumed.
3. Security Light Leasing: Residential and commercial LED security light leasing at $13.32/month with free installation and five-year lease requirement. Revenue recognized monthly as a line item on utility bills.
4. Dark Fiber Leasing: Dark fiber infrastructure leased to businesses for high-speed data transmission. Income from leasing fiber is reinvested to help keep utility rates down.
5. Heat Pump Financing: Low-interest financing for energy-efficient heat pumps through Quality Contractor Network. Payments added to monthly electric bill with no money down, up to 10 years to repay, no prepayment penalty.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ripley Power and Light is a municipal electric utility that distributes electricity purchased from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to approximately 6,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Ripley, Halls, Henning, and Gates, Tennessee. Beyond core electricity distribution, the utility offers fiber internet (via Aeneas partnership), dark fiber leasing, residential and commercial security lighting, a prepaid electricity program, heat pump financing, energy management services, and e-statements.

Product overview

Ripley Power & Light operates as a municipal electric utility providing core electricity distribution services to approximately 6,000 customers in West Tennessee communities. The company offers a portfolio of supplementary services including high-speed fiber internet (via partnership with Aeneas), prepaid electricity, heat pump financing, security lighting, dark fiber leasing for business, and energy management consulting. The utility is distinguished by its community-owned structure, purchases electricity from TVA, and holds APPA RP3 Diamond Level designation for reliability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Utility Service Municipal electric utility providing electricity distribution to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in West Tennessee. Power purchased from TVA and delivered through RPL's transmission and distribution system.
• High-Speed Fiber Internet Broadband internet service delivered over RPL-owned fiber optic network, leased to Aeneas Internet and Telephone. Tiered internet services up to 1 gig speeds with no data caps, starting at $59.95/month. Available in Halls, Gates, and Curve areas.
• Prepay Electricity Program Prepaid electricity program allowing customers to track usage and pay smaller deposits. Requires $60 deposit plus minimum $50 initial electricity purchase. Customers receive daily balance notifications via email or text and can add $20 or more to accounts.
• Heat Pump Financing Low-interest financing for energy-efficient electric heat pumps. Payments appear on monthly utility bill with no money down, up to 10 years to repay, and no prepayment penalty. Must purchase through Quality Contractor Network members.
• Residential Security Lights LED security light leasing service for residential yards. RPL installs and maintains the light for free; customer pays $13.32/month on utility bill with five-year lease requirement. Lights are photocell-triggered.
• Commercial Outdoor Lighting Security lights and floodlights for business parking lots and outdoor areas. Lights are photocell-triggered and available for overhead or underground installation. Leasing costs vary with number of lights, wattage, and installation type.
• Dark Fiber Network Leasing Dark fiber infrastructure connecting businesses to high-speed fiber network with two redundant paths to outside networks. Companies lease fiber for data transmission, computer networking, phone communications, video, and security.
• Energy Management Services Free programs for commercial and industrial customers through TVA partnership. Includes lighting design recommendations, HVAC studies, energy audits, compressed air leak tests, infrared scans, power quality studies, demand-side management assistance, and ultrasonic testing.
• Plus One Assistance Program Assistance program helping customers in need pay utility bills. Customers can contribute through one-time donations or monthly utility bill additions. RPL administers the program at no cost.
• E-Statement Program Electronic bill delivery program sending monthly electric bills as PDF attachments via email. Available for monthly billing customers only (not prepaid accounts). Bills arrive before mailed versions due to elimination of mail processing delay.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 50% savings on heating costs compared with electric resistance heat
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary electricity supplier for Ripley Power and Light. TVA provides lower-cost electric power compared to national averages. About 82 cents of every dollar paid by RPL customers goes to purchase energy from TVA. TVA also funds STEM grants in partnership with RPL service area schools.
• Aeneas Internet and TelephonecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRPL owns fiber network and leases it to Aeneas, which markets and provides internet and telephone services to end consumers. Aeneas offers speeds up to 1 gig at $59.95/month with no data caps. Partnership expanded fiber to Halls, Gates, and Curve areas.
• HTL AdvantagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partner working with RPL to attract industry to Lauderdale County area. Helps with industrial site recruitment and business development.
• West Tennessee Industrial AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization collaborating with RPL to bring industry to Lauderdale County area.
• National Institute for Hometown Security (NIHS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner in microgrid pilot project. NIHS designed technical projects for critical infrastructure. Partners: City of Ripley, Resilience Energy and Infrastructure (manufacturer), and RPL for grid integration. Project provides portable solar-powered microgrid for emergency backup power.
• Resilience Energy and InfrastructureflagshipTechnology or IntegrationPrivate company that manufactured the portable solar-powered microgrid system for Ripley's emergency backup power pilot project.
• Quality Contractor Network (Heat Pump Installers)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of contractors who have completed special TVA-sponsored training for heat pump installation. Required for customers to access RPL's low-interest heat pump financing program. Members include Quality Service Heating and Air (Ripley) and Windle Heating and Air Conditioning (Dyersburg).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Morristown Utility Systems: Morristown Utility Systems is a municipal utility providing electric, water, wastewater, and fiber internet services in Morristown, Tennessee. It is comparable to Ripley Power & Light as a small Tennessee municipal utility with combined electric and fiber operations.
• Jackson Energy Authority: Jackson Energy Authority is a municipal utility in West Tennessee providing electric, gas, water, and fiber internet services. It is directly comparable to Ripley Power & Light's combined electric distribution and fiber business within the same TVA service region.
• Tullahoma Utilities Board: Tullahoma Utilities Board is a small Tennessee municipal utility providing electric, gas, water, and fiber internet services. It is comparable to Ripley Power & Light in size and in offering combined electric distribution and fiber broadband services under community ownership.
• Pulaski Electric System: Pulaski Electric System is a small municipal electric utility serving Pulaski, Tennessee. It is comparable to Ripley Power & Light in scale and structure as a TVA-served community-owned municipal utility in a similar rural Tennessee service territory.
• Nashville Electric Service: NES is the municipal electric utility serving Nashville, Tennessee. While significantly larger in scale, it shares the same community-owned not-for-profit municipal utility structure and TVA wholesale supplier relationship as Ripley Power & Light.
• Memphis Light, Gas and Water: MLGW is the largest municipal utility in Tennessee serving Memphis with electric, gas, and water services. It is comparable to Ripley Power & Light as a community-owned public power utility operating in West Tennessee under similar regulatory and TVA supply dynamics.
• Bristol Tennessee Essential Services: BTES is a municipal electric utility serving Bristol, Tennessee that also operates fiber internet services (BTES Fiber). It is comparable to Ripley Power & Light as a community-owned utility combining electric distribution with FTTH broadband.
• Knoxville Utilities Board: KUB is a Tennessee municipal utility providing electric, gas, water, and wastewater services under community ownership. It is comparable to Ripley Power & Light as a public power utility operating in the same state regulatory environment with TVA wholesale supply relationships.
• Clarksville Department of Electricity: CDE is a municipal electric utility serving Clarksville, Tennessee. It is comparable to Ripley Power & Light as a community-owned public power utility in Tennessee purchasing wholesale power from TVA under the same regulatory framework.
• Chattanooga EPB: Chattanooga EPB is a municipal electric utility in Tennessee that also operates a city-wide fiber optic network offering gigabit internet services. It is the most direct comparable to Ripley Power & Light's combined electric utility and FTTH business model under community ownership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ripleypowerandlight
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ripleypower

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ripley Power & Light