Municipal Tennessee

Columbia Power System - (TN)

198min
SAIDI 2023
2.35
SAIFI 2023
35,567
Customers

What This Utility Data Tells You

Columbia Power System - (TN) is a municipally-owned utility operating in Tennessee under EIA identifier 3855. It reports service to approximately 35,567 customer accounts and generated about $0.08 billion in annual electric revenue, with a service footprint spanning 2 ZIP codes. As a municipal utility, it is typically governed by a local board or city council and is exempt from federal income tax.

In 2023, the average Columbia Power System - (TN) customer experienced 197.8 minutes of power interruptions — a metric called SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index). That sits within the 120–180 minute national benchmark range, indicating performance typical of U.S. distribution utilities. SAIFI — the average number of outage events per customer — was 2.35 for the same period, so customers statistically faced roughly 2 distinct interruptions that year. Excluding major event days (hurricanes, ice storms), SAIDI drops to 177.0 minutes — the gap between that figure and the headline 197.8 reveals how much weather, not day-to-day infrastructure, drove outages.

The EIA dataset includes 4 years of continuous reporting (2020–2023) for Columbia Power System - (TN), which lets you see whether reliability is trending up or down rather than judging from a single snapshot. SAIDI has improved from 988.6 to 197.8 minutes over that window — a meaningful direction for prospective customers and regulators watching capital investment outcomes. All figures on this page come directly from EIA Form 861, the federal annual electric power industry survey, with service territory ZIPs sourced from OpenEI — you can cross-reference them with your own utility bill or use them when comparing providers before relocating.

SAIDI

198 min per year

Average outage minutes (2023)

SAIFI

2.35 interruptions/yr

Outage frequency (2023)

Customers

35,567

Served in Tennessee

SAIDI vs. National Average (180 min) 49.4%

198 minutes per customer per year

Columbia Power System - (TN) SAIDI

Minutes without power per year (2023)

198 SAIDI198 SAIDINat. avg 120120SAIDI198SAIDI

Below Average

Reliability Trend (2020–2023)

Year SAIDI (min) SAIDI nMED SAIFI Customers
2020 988.6 875.4 2.848 31,769
2021 97.5 73.9 2.778 32,897
2022 478.8 331.0 4.849 36,368
2023 197.8 177.0 2.348 35,567

SAIDI nMED = SAIDI without major event days. Source: EIA Form 861.

Service Area

Columbia Power System - (TN) serves 2 ZIP codes in Tennessee.

3840138402

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is Columbia Power System - (TN)?

Columbia Power System - (TN) had a SAIDI of 197.8 minutes in 2023, meaning the average customer experienced about 198 minutes of outages that year. This is near the national average.

What type of utility is Columbia Power System - (TN)?

Columbia Power System - (TN) is classified as a Municipal serving Tennessee. Municipal utilities are owned and operated by local governments.

What does SAIDI mean for Columbia Power System - (TN)?

SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index) measures the average total minutes per year that a customer of Columbia Power System - (TN) experiences power outages. A lower SAIDI indicates better reliability. The national average is roughly 120-180 minutes per year, so comparing Columbia Power System - (TN)'s SAIDI to that benchmark shows whether this utility is above or below average.

How many customers does Columbia Power System - (TN) serve?

Columbia Power System - (TN) serves approximately 35,567 customers in Tennessee. Customer count can affect reliability metrics because larger utilities may face different infrastructure challenges compared to smaller ones.

How has Columbia Power System - (TN)'s reliability changed over time?

Columbia Power System - (TN) has 4 years of reliability data (2020-2023). SAIDI has remained relatively stable over this period. Review the trend table above for year-by-year detail.

What is SAIDI without major event days?

SAIDI "without major event days" (SAIDI nMED) excludes outages caused by hurricanes, ice storms, and other catastrophic weather events. It better reflects day-to-day infrastructure reliability rather than vulnerability to extreme weather. Both standard SAIDI and SAIDI nMED are shown in the reliability trend table above.

Utility Profile

Type
Municipal
State
Tennessee
Customers
35,567
Annual Revenue
$0.08B
EIA ID
3855
Data Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration Form 861 annual electric power industry survey. ZIP service territory from OpenEI.

Related

Data sourced from official EIA reliability statistics and OpenEI utility rate database. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainUtility Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Form 861. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.