The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) clarified Thursday that it will continue to provide electricity to customers in Mississippi, even if they’re growing cannabis.
Mississippi voters approved a medical marijuana program for the state in a ballot initiative in 2020. A court ruling threatened to overturn the will of the voters last year, but Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed the bill into law earlier this month with restrictions that limited amounts of cannabis patients could buy.
Days after Reeves signed the bill, TVA asked the federal government for guidance on delivering power to cannabis companies, according to Tupelo’s Daily Journal newspaper. Cannabis remains illegal on the federal level, listed on the government’s Schedule I category along with heroin, peyote, and meth. The utility said it wanted to ensure it was not breaking a federal law by supplying power to cannabis growers.
But TVA officials said Thursday the company has an obligation to deliver the power.
“There will be no interruption in service because of this newly signed law.”
Tennessee Valley Authority
”We want to be clear about TVA’s position on the implications to our energy service to Mississippi customers: TVA has an obligation to serve our customers with safe, reliable, low-cost energy and we will continue to do so,” reads the statement. “There will be no interruption in service because of this newly signed law.
“The broader issue is a complex one and represents a conflict between state and federal law. We are looking to the appropriate federal agencies for further clarification and have requested additional guidance.
”Our service to our customers remains unchanged and we will continue to carry out our mission.”
“TVA’s statement has already caused some medical marijuana facilities to look at other areas of the state and therefore possibly denying North Mississippians the benefits of the newly passed medical marijuana program.”
Brandon Presley, Mississippi’s Public Service Commissioner
Confusion over TVA’s response and clarification was loud enough to merit a statement from Brandon Presley, Mississippi’s Public Service Commissioner.
“TVA’s statement has already caused some medical marijuana facilities to look at other areas of the state and therefore possibly denying North Mississippians the benefits of the newly passed medical marijuana program,” Presley said in a statement posted to Twitter Thursday. “It is a long-held principle in state law that electric utilities have an obligation to serve customers without discrimination.
“A licensed medical marijuana facility under Mississippi law is no different. It is my position that any licensed medical marijuana facility should be served with electricity upon application and request.
“Once power is delivered by the TVA to a local utility, TVA’s oversight ends and controlling state law and Public Service Commission statutes ensure that these facilities should be served with electricity like any other licensed business.”
