Tennessee Electric Co-ops Host Biscuits and Bluegrass Event

Annual gathering brings lawmakers and co-op leaders together before legislative session

Feb. 1, 2026 at 3:55pm

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Early on a Tuesday morning in January, nearly 500 lawmakers, legislative staff, and guests gathered at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville for Biscuits & Bluegrass, a welcome reception presented by Tennessee's electric cooperatives. The event, held just before the start of the new legislative session, is designed to encourage conversations and build relationships between co-op leaders and public officials.

Why it matters

Electric cooperatives in Tennessee are consumer-owned, not-for-profit utilities that serve rural and suburban communities across the state. By taking the time to build trust and understanding with lawmakers, co-ops ensure they have a seat at the table when important decisions are made that can impact the reliability and affordability of energy for their consumers.

The details

Biscuits & Bluegrass is one of the many ways Tennessee's electric cooperatives work behind the scenes to keep power reliable and rates affordable. Over warm biscuits and live bluegrass music, co-op leaders visit with members of the General Assembly and the governor's cabinet, share perspectives, and listen as the legislative session begins. These relationships carry forward throughout the year, helping to avoid costly misunderstandings and keep the focus on serving Tennessee's communities well.

  • Biscuits & Bluegrass is held early on the Tuesday morning before lawmakers head across the street to begin a new legislative session at the Capitol.
  • The event took place on January 13, 2026.

The players

Mike Knotts

CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association.

Tennessee's electric cooperatives

Consumer-owned, not-for-profit utilities serving communities across the state.

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What they’re saying

“Relationships matter. When lawmakers understand who electric cooperatives are and who we serve, it leads to better conversations, better decisions and better outcomes for our consumers.”

— Mike Knotts, CEO, Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association

The takeaway

By taking the time to build trust and understanding with lawmakers, Tennessee's electric cooperatives ensure they have a voice in the decisions that impact the reliability and affordability of energy for their consumer-members across the state.