Crossville, Alabama (DeKalb County)

TVA is considering improvements to its transmission system that would provide power for growing load and increase power reliability in the DeKalb County area of Alabama.

Cherokee Electric Cooperative (CEC) serves portions of four counties through 15 substations at 230‑kV, 161‑kV, 115‑kV, and 46‑kV. The southern portion of CEC’s territory near Crossville, AL has experienced steady growth since 2020, increasing strain on existing 46‑kV supplies from the Sand Rock and Whitesboro Metering Stations.

The Sand Rock 46‑kV source is heavily loaded in winter, regularly exceeding 95% of firm capacity since 2022, and uses aging copper conductor that is difficult to maintain due to challenging terrain. The Whitesboro 46‑kV source, served radially from the jointly owned Albertville 161‑kV Substation, is also aging and has caused increasing reliability concerns, including 219 minutes of outages over the last five years and no available backfeed for restoration.

Due to load growth, equipment age, voltage concerns, and limited reliability in this area, CEC has requested a new 161‑kV delivery point at their proposed Crossville, AL 161‑kV Substation in accordance with TVA’s joint‑one ownership policy.

TVA proposes to build about 6 to 8 miles of single-circuit, 161-kV transmission line to serve the new substation. The proposed transmission line would tap the existing Albertville–Collinsville 161-kV transmission line between the Marshall-DeKalb Electric Cooperative (MDEC) Geraldine 161-kV Substation and Kilpatrick 161-kV Substation. From this tap point, TVA’s proposed transmission line would extend generally from north to south to the proposed CEC Crossville 161-kV Substation. 

The line would be built using primarily single-pole structures (with the possibility of 2‑pole, H‑frame structures in hilly areas) centered on new 100-foot-wide transmission system right-of-way easement.  TVA is considering approximately 70 alternative routes consisting of 46 alternative segments for the path of the new power line.

TVA will hold an open house on Thursday, October 22, 2026, to provide information, answer questions and receive comments about the proposed transmission project.  For those unable to attend the open house on October 22, 2026, TVA is providing a virtual open house from October 22 through December 3, 2026, online at tva.com/virtual-crossville.

The project is expected to be in service in fall 2030.  Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2030.  (Dates are subject to change. Unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.)

TVA's process for siting new transmission projects is designed to allow public input at various stages. TVA is committed to working with area stakeholders to address concerns during various stages of the project. Comments received during the comment period will be used in reaching a decision on the proposed action.

TVA will hold an open house to discuss the proposed transmission project. Details are as follows:

Public Open House:

Thursday, October 22, 2026, 1:00 - 7:00 p.m., CT (local time)
Boaz Parks and Recreation, 400 Elizabeth Street, Boaz, AL 35957

Virtual Open House: tva.com/virtual-crossville 
October 22, 2026 to December 3, 2026

TVA representatives will be available at the open house to provide information, answer questions and receive comments. Large maps showing the alternative locations for consideration will be available.

TVA is interested in receiving comments concerning how this project may affect the environment, historic properties, or any other issues associated with this proposal. Any comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record.

If you have special needs, please contact Veronica Martinez at least five days prior to the open house toll-free at (800) 362-4355.

(Dates are subject to change. Unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.)