When extreme weather hits, EPB is on the job

EPB's commitment to delivering reliable and resilient energy depends on the dedicated efforts of team members across the company. When storms or other incidents damage the local electric system and interrupt power, the entire organization springs into action.

While the Smart Grid functions autonomously to promptly reroute power and minimize the impact of outages for many customers, within seconds, EPB's teams mobilize quickly to complete the restoration as quickly as possible. For customers who aren't automatically restored, operators in EPB's Control Center remotely switch circuits to further reduce the impact of outages and can frequently restore many more customers within minutes.

The Smart Grid helps minimize the number of customers impacted during storms. However, the physical damage to the infrastructure still requires the tireless work of EPB operations employees to make repairs. Regardless of the time, weather or challenge, our employees respond and work as quickly as possible until all customers are fully restored.

When damage is widespread and significant, EPB crews work around the clock, and when necessary, call in as many additional contract utility crews as are available to further accelerate repairs. During one damaging storm this spring, EPB engaged more than 400 utility workers, some from as far away as Florida and Indiana, to complete the restoration.

At the same time, other members of the team provide customers with outage information. The MyEPB app provides updates about when customers can expect to have power reconnected based on information input by repair crews. Meanwhile, EPB's 24/7/365 award-winning, all-local Customer Relations Team keep them informed by answering phone calls, emails and webchats to address questions and provide up-to-the-minute information.

EPB Broadband Solutions drives local economic growth

EPB's Broadband Solutions works with communities across the nation to help them successfully deploy and manage broadband networks. EPB Broadband Solutions has established contracts to support 29 out-of-market fiber optic providers, which currently have more than 160,000 subscribers and the potential to serve as many as 985,000 homes and businesses in communities all over the country. Broadband Solutions also works with 34 providers operating inside EPB's footprint.

To help providers succeed, EPB team members across the company deliver various services, including 24/7 technical support for residential and businesses customers.

In Fiscal Year 2024, Broadband Solutions signed a record number of six new broadband service customers representing 165,000 subscribers. Among existing Broadband Solutions customers, EPB Tech Support managed a high call volume of about 10,000 calls per month.

Most importantly, EPB Broadband Solutions provides services to other communities and brings additional revenue into the local economy. As a result, the effort supports new local job creation as part of EPB's mission to support economic development in Chattanooga.

Behind the scenes of Chattanooga's growth

As Chattanooga's growth in recent years has pushed the total number of local electric customers to nearly 200,000 premises, EPB crews and engineers have been busy behind the scenes designing and constructing the new infrastructure necessary to provide services to these newly built facilities. These efforts are also supporting rapid business growth across the community.

When it comes to large commercial developments and neighborhoods, EPB's work often begins years in advance of actual construction. While projects are still in their planning phases, EPB is at the table providing guidance on the best and most cost-effective way to construct new developments while integrating them into Chattanooga's electric grid. In addition, EPB offers new construction growth credits to offset electric infrastructure costs and support continued development in our community.

As developers move into their construction phase, EPB works closely with them to align the installation of infrastructure with their construction schedule. EPB also continues to provide personalized service and expertise throughout the project. To ensure EPB has the necessary equipment and materials on hand to keep these projects on track, EPB's purchasing team projects future needs often years in advance and stocks critical components to ensure they'll be available when needed.

Maintaining infrastructure

Wind-blown branches and fallen trees are the #1 cause of damage to local infrastructure. EPB Vegetation Management is dedicated to a proactive trimming program to preserve essential power and fiber optics services while preserving healthy trees and fostering positive relationships with customers.

EPB Vegetation Management is responsible for managing the pruning of trees along more than 3,000 miles of power lines and infrastructure, roughly the distance between Chattanooga to Phoenix, Arizona and back.

The EPB Energy Pros^℠ responsible for vegetation management are arborists who have been certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. They ensure that contracted vegetation management professionals follow all proper pruning practices.

EPB Energy Pros also share their expertise through the Free Tree ReLeaf program with Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center and the City of Chattanooga. The partnership distributes 2,000 free native tree and shrub species annually and educates customers about best practices for planting to avoid future tree-related power outages.