Author: hannah

May 5, 2026

Contact: Stephanie Tvardek, Scheduling & Operations Coordinator, (231)-932-4565, stvardek@tclp.org

TRAVERSE CITY, MI — Residents, businesses, bicyclists, and pedestrians should be aware that Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) will perform tree trimming along the TART Trail network area known as “Boardman Lake Trail Bridge – North” on Thursday, May 7, 2026.  Work will take place at the north end of Boardman Lake along the TART Trail west of the bridge, and tree trimming equipment will temporarily impede trail access in this section from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 11:00 a.m., weather permitting, to perform the work safely.  Bicyclists and pedestrians will be allowed to navigate around the work area off the Trail.

If possible, please use alternative routes to avoid this area to reduce congestion and promote worker safety.

We would like to thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.  Please contact the TCLP Scheduling & Operations Coordinator at (231) 932-4565 if you have any questions or concerns regarding this work. 

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About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community for over a century, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility providing electric and telecommunication services to Traverse City and the surrounding areas. Guided by its mission to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable services, TCLP’s vision is to be a trusted partner in powering a sustainable and connected community. The utility’s Strategic Plan focuses on six priorities: Community Enrichment, Employee Excellence, Customer Experience, Operational & Financial Excellence, Technology Transition, and Environmental Sustainability.

For more information on TCLP and its commitment to reliability, visit www.tclp.org

May 1, 2026

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231) 932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

Traverse City, MI– Traverse City Light and Power (TCLP) is accepting Community Investment Fund Grant Applications for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year.  Applications are accepted until July 31, 2026.

As a public power utility, TCLP is committed to investing in the community we serve. The vision of the Community Investment Fund is to enhance the quality of life in the Traverse City area with charitable contributions focused on projects and programs in three key areas: Clean Energy Related Programs and Projects, Innovative Technology, and Natural Resources/Environmental Programs.  

“TCLP is a community-owned utility that is committed to investing back into the community it serves,” said Board member Elysha Davila. “We are excited to support initiatives that are aligned with TCLP’s vision and values to embrace environmental stewardship and foster a sustainable environment.”

Are you a non-profit organization operating in the Traverse City service area that has a program or project that can benefit the Traverse City community? Does your project aim to promote energy-related education, improve the quality of the natural resources of Traverse City, and support a sustainable environment?

If your answer is yes to the above questions, we invite you to apply for TCLP’s Community Investment Fund. To apply, visit our website www.tclp.org/community-investment-fund/. Grant applications are accepted two times per year from May 1 – July 31 and from November 1 – January 31.

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About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community for over a century, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility providing electric and telecommunication services to Traverse City and the surrounding areas. Guided by its mission to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable services, TCLP’s vision is to be a trusted partner in powering a sustainable and connected community. The utility’s Strategic Plan focuses on six priorities: Community Enrichment, Employee Excellence, Customer Experience, Operational & Financial Excellence, Technology Transition, and Environmental Sustainability.

For more information on TCLP and its commitment to reliability, visit www.tclp.org

April 30, 2026

Contact: Stephanie Tvardek, Scheduling & Operations Coordinator, (231)-932-4565, stvardek@tclp.org

TRAVERSE CITY, MI — Residents, businesses, bicyclists, and pedestrians should be aware that Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) will be replacing a transformer damaged by a falling tree on Thursday, April 30, 2026.  Work will take place at the SE corner of 10850 E Traverse Highway and will cause a power outage on the MDOT HAWK signal for pedestrian crossing on M72 west of M22.  The outage will take place between 9:00AM and 1:00PM, and during this time access to this pedestrian crossing will be blocked.  Please use alternative routes to avoid this area to reduce congestion and promote worker safety.

We would like to thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.  Please contact the TCLP Scheduling & Operations Coordinator at (231) 932-4565 if you have any questions or concerns regarding this work. 

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About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community since 1912, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility serving Traverse City and its surrounding areas. Dedicated to reliability, sustainability, and innovation, TCLP provides energy and telecommunication services designed to meet the changing needs of its community. For more information, visit www.tclp.org.

April 29, 2026

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231) 932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

Traverse City, MI.– Traverse City Light and Power (TCLP) awards one local agencies funds from the TCLP Community Investment Program. This year’s Community Investment Program awardee is TART Trails. The following submission was approved at the Tuesday, April 14, 2026, TCLP Board meeting:

• TART Trails – request in the amount of $7,500 to support the launch of their TrailWise initiative, with the goal of building a sustainable, bicycle and trail-friendly community.

“We are proud to support projects that advance clean energy, innovation, and environmental stewardship,” said Elysha Davila, Chairperson of the Community Investment Fund (CIF) Ad Hoc Committee. “Through the Community Investment Fund, we invest in initiatives that deliver direct benefits to our customers and strengthen the communities we serve.”

“Investing in projects like TrailWise reflects our commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance quality of life, promote environmental stewardship, and deliver meaningful value to our customers,” said Brandie Ekren, Executive Director of TCLP. “We’re proud to partner with organizations like TART Trails that are helping build a more sustainable and connected community.”

The Community Investment Fund assists non-profit organizations, focusing on three key areas: Community Development, Energy-Related Educational Programs, and Natural Resources/Environment. To learn more about the CIF visit our website at www.tclp.org/community-investment-fund/. Grant applications are accepted two times per year from the period of May 1 – July 31 and from November 1 – January 31.

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About Traverse City Light and Power

Serving the community for over a century, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility providing electric and telecommunication services to Traverse City and the surrounding areas. Guided by its mission to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable services, TCLP’s vision is to be a trusted partner in powering a sustainable and connected community. The utility’s Strategic Plan focuses on six priorities: Community Enrichment, Employee Excellence, Customer Experience, Operational & Financial Excellence, Technology Transition, and Environmental Sustainability.

For more information on TCLP and its commitment to reliability, visit www.tclp.org

April 16, 2026

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231) 932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

Traverse City, MI — Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) has earned national recognition for delivering exceptional electric reliability in 2025. The recognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA), a trade group that represents more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities.

APPA elevates utility performance outage and restoration data through its PowerTRX Reliability service and compares this data to national statistics tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration for all types of electric utilities.

“I am continually inspired by the unwavering commitment of public power utilities to delivering reliable service to their communities,” said Adrienne Lotto, Senior Vice President of Grid Security, Operations, and Technical Services. “The utilities honored here have set the standard for excellence and dedication, ensuring that families and businesses can count on their local power providers every day. Congratulations to these outstanding teams for earning this well-deserved recognition and for making a positive difference where it matters most.”

Nationwide, the average public power customer has their lights out for less than half the amount of time that customers of other types of utilities do.

“We are proud to receive this recognition. It is a testament to the hard work of all our staff to ensure that we keep Traverse City powered,” said Tony Chartrand, Director of Electric Engineering & Operations at TCLP.

“Reliable electric service is foundational to the well-being and vitality of our community. This recognition reflects not only the dedication of our team, but also our intentional focus on building a resilient and forward-looking system that our customers can depend on every day,” said Brandie Ekren, Executive Director of TCLP.

About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community for over a century, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility providing electric and telecommunication services to Traverse City and the surrounding areas. Guided by its mission to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable services, TCLP’s vision is to be a trusted partner in powering a sustainable and connected community. The utility’s Strategic Plan focuses on six priorities: Community Enrichment, Employee Excellence, Customer Experience, Operational & Financial Excellence, Technology Transition, and Environmental Sustainability.

For more information on TCLP and its commitment to reliability, visit www.tclp.org

March 23, 2026

Contact: Stephanie Tvardek, Scheduling & Operations Coordinator, (231) 932-4565, stvardek@tclp.org

TRAVERSE CITY, MI — Residents, businesses, motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians should be aware that Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) will perform underground fiber installation work on S Union Street at the intersection of W State Street on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.  Work will take place in the manhole at that intersection and will require a temporary closure of the center lane on S Union Street south of W State Street from 7:00 a.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m., weather permitting, to perform the work safely.  Two-way traffic will be maintained using the northbound and southbound lanes of S Union Street.

During construction, the pedestrian crosswalk at S Union Street on the south side of W State Street will be closed.  Appropriate signage will be in place indicating the work area and detours, and access to all businesses will be maintained at all times.  If possible, please use alternative routes to avoid this area to reduce congestion, delay, and promote worker safety.

We would like to thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.  Please contact the TCLP Scheduling & Operations Coordinator at (231) 932-4565 if you have any questions or concerns regarding this work. 

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About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community for over a century, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility providing electric and telecommunication services to Traverse City and the surrounding areas. Guided by its mission to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable services, TCLP’s vision is to be a trusted partner in powering a sustainable and connected community. The utility’s Strategic Plan focuses on six priorities: Community Enrichment, Employee Excellence, Customer Experience, Operational & Financial Excellence, Technology Transition, and Environmental Sustainability.

For more information on TCLP and its commitment to reliability, visit www.tclp.org

March 19, 2026

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231) 932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

Traverse City, MI – Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) received Board approval to move forward with Solar covered parking with battery storage at Hall Street, the utility’s Customer Service Center located at 130 Hall Street.

In partnership with KEEN Technical Solutions, the project will install a 46.4 kW solar canopy, a 15-kWh battery storage system, and an interactive public display showcasing real-time energy production and system performance.

The installation transforms an existing paved parking area into a dual-purpose asset—generating clean energy while continuing to serve its primary function. The canopy will feature 78 bifacial solar modules and a cantilever design that maintains full access for vehicles, emergency equipment, and snow removal.

Inside the Customer Service Center, visitors will be able to observe the renewable generation and battery storage in action with the kiosk display showcasing live system data.

“This project is a small but meaningful example of how utilities are evolving,” said Brandie Ekren, TCLP’s Executive Director. “We have an opportunity to rethink how everyday infrastructure serves our community—making it more productive, more resilient, and more connected to the future of energy.” The project supports multiple key strategic priorities, including:

• Community Enrichment & Customer Experience: The prominently positioned installation will provide customers with the opportunity to observe solar and battery storage systems firsthand. Informational displays will detail both solar production and battery storage operations.
• Employee Excellence Technology Transition: TCLP personnel will acquire hands-on expertise in the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of solar and battery systems. The data collected will enhance the utility’s intelligence platform.
• Environmental Sustainability: Although the system is relatively small, it will help lower emissions and act as a catalyst for making better use of parking areas and other impervious surfaces.

“TCLP is committed to helping our community understand how renewable energy technologies work—and how they can deliver real value for homes and businesses,” said Jake Hardy, TCLP’s Sustainability & Key Accounts Manager.

“Keen is proud to partner with TCLP to bring sustainable energy solutions into the public eye. The canopy transforms an underutilized parking area into a clean-energy source while providing shade and protection. Paired with battery storage, it enhances reliability during outages and helps reduce energy costs through peak demand management,” said Jamie Vaughn, Keen’s Senior Project Manager & Solar Systems Specialist.

Once complete, the Hall Street installation will serve as a visible demonstration site supporting community awareness, employee development, and TCLP’s sustainability goals. The project will help explain how solar and battery systems integrate with the local grid and the role they can play in building a more resilient energy future.

About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community for over a century, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility providing electric and telecommunication services to Traverse City and the surrounding areas. Guided by its mission to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable services, TCLP’s vision is to be a trusted partner in powering a sustainable and connected community. The utility’s Strategic Plan focuses on six priorities: Community Enrichment, Employee Excellence, Customer Experience, Operational & Financial Excellence, Technology Transition, and Environmental Sustainability.

For more information on TCLP and its commitment to reliability, visit www.tclp.org