Newport Utilities has to be the most corrupt establishment in Cocke County, Tennessee.

Newport Utilities has absolutely zero assistance to those in need, they're price gouging the entire County and even made a way to shut their customers out to where nothing can done about their corruption. This community desperately needs help with our only source of electricity & water. 

It's no secret that Cocke County is not the wealthiest County in Tennessee. To the civilians that call it Home, it's getting harder to reside in even a County with an already higher than normal poverty rate. The bills issued to locals have drastically increased in the last 2-3 months. Increases that are so high, they could be considered astronomical. Folks that have paid $80- $200 per month depending on season for over a decade are now paying $500 and higher. There are some that use wood heat around the clock that are even getting stuck with a $500 light bill.. Some unlucky residents are paying just under $1000 for one month's Utilities. There is no way humanly possible that every single resident started using enough energy to accumulate these numbers at the exact same time. It's also technically impossible as it would be a major overload on the circuit which will not have a happy ending for anyone involved. One thing that is more than possible however, is that Newport Utilities excepted a very large loan to start their broadband services. A budget that they proceeded to overshoot by $4.6 million dollars. As we all know, you can't overshoot a budget/loan by such magnitude without consequences. I strongly believe that the loyal tax paying citizens of Cocke County are paying for the immature choices made by Newport Utilities in the introduction of NU Connect. Most electric companies nationwide offer some sort of payment assistance plan for those with high bills and low income. Newport Utilities does not. All Utility customers have exactly seven days from the due date to pay their bill, or their services are disconnected on Day 8. There is no wiggle room for absolutely any situation that could arise. Anything they can do from price gouging to refusing 2 hours of service in order to get an appraisal on a potential home purchase.

They can have a potential buyer offering to pay them for 2 hours of utility use- long enough for an appraisal or inspection to be performed. The buyer that is already a customer that has never had their services disconnected before will still get denied. Costing the buyer a chance at a forever home and the seller a chance at a fresh start. If they would allow this to happen, they could collect their debt from the seller within 60 days of closing as part of the contract. Suppose the deal doesn't go through, the buyer paid for the services used anyways, right? So what would it hurt for Newport Utilities to approve this?? But no.

When the stuck up mindset, insubordination and price gouging become an issue for the victims that have no spot on the board or payroll- someone is going to confront them. In the past (before NU Connect), locals were allowed to attend monthly board meetings if they chose to do so. In doing so, they could have 5 minutes on the floor to give their ideas, thanks, thoughts or concerns. This is no longer an open option to the bill payers of Newport Utilities. There is a form that is offered in which must be filled out THEN approved in order to attend the board meeting. If you're lucky enough to be allowed to attend, they can still deny you the right to speak.

Of course the biggest issue at hand is the price gouging. It's especially hard on the ones that don't make $40+ per hour on the job and the ones on a fixed income. We cannot afford to pay for their mistakes any longer. I'm sure 99% of the county, including myself would drop their account with Newport Utilities and go with a competitor if the option was available. Unfortunately they are the only company locally available for these very essential resources.. When making all of this extra money, you would think they would at least be able to pay their workers enough to do their job. But there have been poles with lines down across public roads for roughly a month. When nearby residents of the downed lines ask for it to be cleaned up, they get told it's cable wire. Whether the downed lines belong to Newport Utilities or not, is it too much to ask that they figure out what the line belongs to? (old phone company? Cable company? Internet?) And possibly put in call to get it removed? For the safety of the residents around? If that's too much to handle, Tell the nearby residents of the mess the name of the company responsible for clean up. Someone somewhere will contact them. Just very selfish and insubordinate behavior overall.. Downed lines are a hazard to drivers and surrounding residents no matter what kind they are. 

PLEASE HELP US!! Whether it's getting Newport Utilities a reality check or establishing another means of Utilities for Cocke County residents.. Something has to be done.