JONESBOROUGH REPERTORY THEATRE

JCPB has been serving the energy needs of Jonesborough and surrounding areas since 1945. This photograph of a JCPB line crew  was taken at our former Roan Street location in the mid-1950’s.

More Than Just Power

Submitted By: Angela Shrewsbury, JCPB Energy Services & Marketing

Johnson City Power Board (JCPB) is "more than just power!" Upon moving from downtown Roan Street to the Boones Creek location in 2002, a member of the JCPB management staff said "It is with pride and expectation that we enter to a new phase of service to our customers at our Boones Creek facility." The momentum of striving to better serve over 70,000 customers continues at full speed. The electric industry is changing quickly. Customers demand more. Technology demands more. And, the JCPB employees are excited and ready to exceed customer expectations.

With more than 60 years of service to residences and businesses of Washington County, as well as parts of Carter, Greene, and Sullivan Counties, JCPB has learned to adapt to its customers’ needs. In today’s world of "would you like fries with that," value added services are essential, even in the power business. Businesses are perpetually trying to differentiate themselves to gain more of the market and increase customer loyalty. Is this the goal of JCPB, to gain additional market by selling more energy? JCPB’s General Manager Homer G’Fellers says, "yes and no." G’Fellers, claims "Yes, we’re working towards selling more kWhs. However, on the other hand we don’t want anybody, business or residence, to use any more (kWhs) than they have to." The real key is "any more than they have to." Many of JCPB’s value-added programs, services, and products encourage customers to use less energy. For example, with each electric heat pump installed through the energy right® Heat Pump Program or each new home built per the energy right® guidelines, JCPB loses energy sales. Energy efficient homes obviously use less energy. Why then promote programs that sell less of your primary or key product, electricity? By promoting energy efficiency, power companies can actually help customers receive low cost, reliable power. Consider the big picture. The more energy efficient we all are, fewer generation facilities will be needed, fewer substations and lines will need to be built or upgraded, and energy demand-generation can be better managed. We all have an obligation to protect our natural resources and to help protect the environment for future generations. Furthermore, as a public, non-profit utility JCPB is dedicated to exceeding customer expectations by not only selling electric energy, but providing the value-added, as well. In other words, a burger isn’t a burger without the fries. The fries simply make the whole "meal experience" better. The whole "at-home electric energy experience" is better if you’re warm and comfortable, and energy bills are affordable.

In an effort to help make Johnson City a great place to work, live, and play, JCPB works to promote economic development through contributions, by offering a key accounts program for commercial and industrial customers, and by ensuring an overall 99% reliability rate for electric service. Through the key accounts program, JCPB offers a variety of services for business and industry; thus, assisting local business and industry to better its bottom line. One such service provided is ultra sonic testing. By conducting ultra sonic testing, TVA and JCPB personnel use high-tech equipment to assist manufacturers in detecting air leaks. Any air leaks found are tagged, the amount of lost air (CFM) is recorded, and the customer is provided with a final report which indicates the amount of energy lost in terms of dollars. By fixing tagged air leaks, the customer may then save energy and money. This is just one example of the many programs commercial and industrial customers have utilized. Several local companies have benefited from loans for capital purchases, energy audits, thermal imaging, HVAC analysis, and energy efficient light recommendations.

In the past few years, many changes have been made to better serve customers and to streamline operations. JCPB has extended business hours, accepts payments by credit card, offers an interactive website, reorganized crews to more quickly respond to power interruptions, and much more. In addition, new programs and services are on the horizon, but are yet to be announced. (Stay tuned.)

Again, JCPB is "more than just power." The employees are really what make JCPB "more than just power." Power Board employees have a tremendous spirit of giving back to the community. Many JCPB employees are very involved in the community. Employees volunteer their time, effort, and money to numerous events and fundraisers; such as, sponsoring children’s sports activities, Johnson City/Washington County/Jonesborough Chamber of Commerce, Boone Lake Clean-Up, Boys & Girls Club, UMOJA, United Way, Communities In Schools, Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald House Charities, and much more. Many Power Board employees are quick to recognize their blessings and are quick to share. One of the most heart-warming stories about a JCPB employee going above and beyond happened on a very cold winter’s day. One of the JCPB application representatives was very upset that the customer she was serving wasn’t wearing any shoes. After spending some time with the customer, the application representative made the assumption that the lady, who also had three small children by her side, simply could not afford shoes. So, the application representative quietly and discreetly slipped off the shoes she was wearing and gave them to the lady. This example is what it’s all about, people serving people. And JCPB is in business to serve people.

For more information about JCPB and its programs, services, and products visit jcpb.com.