Fewer outages, stronger broadband with new LCUB grid
Lenoir City Utilities Board announced a public status update concerning their electrical grid modernization with fiber optic technology.
“This project started over two years ago with an August 2022 ground-breaking event. After some initial supply chain delays, the $150 million multi-year project got under way,” an LCUB press release stated. “This upgrade will provide a more robust electrical network, reduce outage delays for electric customers and provide the technological infrastructure for fiber-to-the-premise broadband Internet services to all LCUB Electric customers.
“As of Nov. 19, this project is 100 percent designed and 33 percent complete,” the release further stated.
“We’re currently serving thousands of residential customers and businesses with reliable electricity and fast fiber broadband services,” LCUB general manager Shannon Littleton said. “We continue to connect and activate new neighborhoods every month and new fiber broadband customers every day. It’s available to most of Lenoir City and Karns area electric customers with some remaining pockets still being updated, and we’re getting the Hardin Valley area connected as well.
“We’re also looking forward to serving Farragut and North Loudon County customers very soon,” he added.
Jeremy Walden, LCUB director of Engineering and Operations, said, “This has been a massive project undertaking. We’ve already run 513 miles of fiber optic cabling both under and above ground and have about 554 miles of cable yet to install. We are so appreciative of the public’s patience as we continue construction and this service roll-out to all LCUB electric customers.
“The construction of the fiber optic network will reward customers with a much more reliable and robust electrical grid, and Gig-speed and faster fiber broadband services offerings starting at just $69.99 a month, including Wi-Fi for homes. Business Fiber Broadband services start at $89.95 a month,” he added.
LCUB customers may visit www.lcub.com/broadbandsearch to obtain information about LCUB’s Broadband offerings or to sign up.
