The story of Fayetteville Public Utilities (FPU) is one of dedication and service. FPU’s purpose remains the same today as it did when the company was established. The utility exists to strengthen the community and improve the quality of life for those living in Fayetteville and Lincoln County.
2025 marks the 90-year anniversary of rural electrification in Lincoln County and the partnership between the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Fayetteville Public Utilities. On October 1, 1935, the first electric light bulb was lit in the Blanche community, and the county made headlines in area newspapers as one of the first electric cooperatives to be formed in the state.
FPU’s roots lie in necessity. As Fayetteville residents enjoyed the luxuries of electricity generated by the Tennessee Electric Power Company, rural neighbors and farmers were almost completely without electric service. Those in the county rallied to form their own electric cooperative, the Lincoln County Electric Membership Corporation.
To lower costs, the city decided to leave the privately owned Tennessee Electric Power Company, construct its own electric utility and buy power from TVA. This marked the birth of the Fayetteville Electric Light and Power Company in 1937.
In 1963, with two electric companies serving Fayetteville and Lincoln County, local governments made the decision to merge the two utilities into the Fayetteville Electric System. This merger created a unique electric system for residents as it operated as a municipality as well as an electric cooperative.
The Fayetteville Board of Mayor and Alderman elected to combine the city’s three utilities. In addition to the Fayetteville Electric System, the city was also served by Fayetteville Water and Wastewater System, which installed its first water works infrastructure in 1898, and Fayetteville Gas System, which began serving residents in 1949. In 2002, the three utilities merged to create Fayetteville Public Utilities.
Not only would FPU bring lights, water, wastewater and natural gas services to the people of Fayetteville and Lincoln County, but it would also create a connection to the outside world. In 1999, FPU became the first utility in Tennessee to offer cable and internet, and in July 2009, FPU added digital phone service to its telecommunications department.
The visionaries who laid the foundation of the utility were true giants and would be proud of FPU today. However, modern infrastructure would look vastly different than it did in their day. Technological advances have revolutionized the way FPU operates, and those advancements are attributed in part to the fortitude and determination of those early leaders.
“For 90 years, TVA and FPU have worked together to ensure Lincoln County and surrounding communities receive reliable, safe and affordable electric service,” said TVA President and CEO Don Moul. “We appreciate and value our partnership with FPU and look forward to continuing to work together and serve the people in these communities.”
“Our partnership with TVA is crucial for delivering essential services that enhance everyday life for those in our community,” said FPU CEO/ General Manager Britt Dye. “In addition to providing power, we work with TVA on initiatives such as grid modernization and green programs to meet the evolving needs of our customers. We are proud to be a partner with TVA and appreciate their support.”
“FPU has been fortunate to have great people who have worked hard to build a strong and reliable utility infrastructure,” added Dye. “Those people have been instrumental in providing essential services that enhance economic growth and significantly improve the quality of life. FPU’s story is a testament to the belief that a company is not defined by the building in which it is housed but by its people. The employees, customers and community have shaped this organization throughout its history and will continue to guide the utility in the future.”
This story is sponsored content.
