Yes. Municipal, county, state, and federal agencies, as well as other utilities, are not required to provide a non-residential security deposit.
Yes, eligible non-residential property owners get a 90-day grace period to connect electric service without a deposit while transitioning a property to a new tenant, as long as the owner is an existing EPB customer in good standing (no disconnect notices, returned checks, or non-pay disconnects). If electric service is needed longer than 90 days, the standard non-residential security deposit policy applies.
The non-residential security deposit is typically set at two times the amount of the highest bill on that business account over the previous 12 months. If you're a new business customer without billing history, or a different type of business is moving into an existing space, the initial non-residential deposit will be based on a fault current sheet from your electrician until at least 6 months of usage history is established.
All non-residential electric customers are required to provide an adequate security deposit on their business electric account to ensure coverage, in line with EPB's electric rules and regulations.
For a non-residential account, you can choose from:
Cash deposit – held by EPB and accrues interest per EPB's interest rate policy
Indemnity bond – valid for at least one year, in a form acceptable to EPB
Irrevocable letter of credit – valid for at least one year, in a form acceptable to EPB
EPB Enhanced Security Deposit Program – available to non-residential customers with good payment history, subject to insurance carrier approval
Yes. EPB reviews non-residential security deposit amounts annually and may adjust them based on the past 12 months of electric usage on that account. If your business is expanding or adding electric load, the account will be reevaluated as well. You can also request a review of your non-residential deposit at any time.
The security deposit on your non-residential account, plus any accrued interest, will first be applied to any unpaid electric bill, and the remaining amount will be refunded to you.
Yes, seasonal non-residential accounts (such as Christmas tree stands or special events) require a minimum security deposit of $350.
EPB offers a blanket security deposit option for property owners whose non-residential tenant accounts change periodically. Owners can secure each electric account individually or aggregate them, and the deposit is based on the highest bill per account over the past 12 months, adjusted for occupancy rate. The property owner must continuously maintain this deposit, and when a tenant takes over the electric account, the tenant must provide their own non-residential security deposit per standard policy.
Yes, homeowner associations are required to provide a security deposit on their non-residential electric account, following the same policy as other business accounts. However, after 5 years of service with a clean payment history (no disconnects, returned checks, or non-pay issues), the HOA can request that EPB waive the deposit requirement and refund the cash deposit plus interest. If any collection activity occurs afterward, EPB may require the HOA to re-establish the security deposit, and another clean 5-year period would be needed before it could be waived again.
You'll need to provide another acceptable form of security deposit on your non-residential account until the preferred option is finalized. Once the bond, letter of credit, or program approval is received, the alternate deposit will be refunded.
Yes. A letter of reference from your previous utility may serve in place of a residential security deposit. Letters must be printed on the utility’s letterhead, authorized by a company official, less than six months old and include a good record of payment for at least 12 months. Also, a co-signer (or guarantor) who is an existing EPB Electric Power customer with a good payment record for at least 12 months may serve in place of a security deposit. The guarantor will be asked to sign an agreement that will remain in effect for one year.
Here’s how it works for current Solar Share participants: Joining Solar Share is like joining a community swimming pool. You share the benefits with your neighbors without the maintenance, liability and other hassles of installing your own. Plus, you can license as many panels as you want without any long term commitments. That makes Solar Share an affordable and convenient way to participate in solar generation.
EPB Solar Share is currently sold out due to popular demand. Sign up for email updates to be among the first to hear about new renewable energy projects.
Credits will depend on total generation of the array for the month prior and will be calculated at the current GSA-1 electric rate. For example, if your panel generates 37 kWh and the current GSA-1 electric rate is about 11.5¢ per kWh with fuel cost adjustment you would receive a credit of $4.26 per panel. What's nice about this is that if the cost of power goes up, your Solar Share bill credits become more valuable as they automatically adjust as the electric rate rises or falls.
Each solar panel within the array is estimated to produce approximately 37 kWh per month. Determine the percentage of your business's energy use you want to receive as a solar credit and multiply that by your average monthly energy use. For example, if you want 25% of your company's power use to be solar, and your average use is 1,600 kWh per month, you would license 11 panels (1600 x .25 = 400/37 = 10.8)
EPB encourages all customers to enroll in paperless billing. When you do, you will receive a one-time $10 credit per account. To switch to paperless billing, please click here or call 423-648-1372.
If we do not receive payment by the 16th day after your billing date, a late fee will be added to your balance, and your account will be considered delinquent. The late fee is 5% on the first $250.00 of the amount owed, and 1% on the remaining balance above $250.00. A reminder notice will be mailed, indicating the amount of payment due. Payment must be received by EPB Electric Power within seven days of this reminder notice in order to avoid disconnection of your service. Please note that EPB Electric Power field representatives cannot accept payments. If you foresee difficulty in paying a bill, call us at (423) 648-1372 and we may be able to extend your payment deadline. In special circumstances, we may also be able to direct you to social service agencies for financial assistance.
If a check or any other payment is returned by your financial institution, we will charge a $30.00 fee for processing the returned payment and require repayment with cash, cashier’s check or money order. Any account with two or more returned payments in a 12-month period will be designated as a “cash only” account. All future payments will need to be made with cash, cashier’s check, money order, Visa, MasterCard or Discover.
If service is disconnected due to nonpayment, we require that all past due balances be paid as well as any reconnection fees and security deposits.
No. Your monthly credit is calculated from the total amount of energy produced at the array divided by the total number of panels.
EPB Solar Share is currently sold out due to popular demand. Sign up for email updates to be among the first to hear about new renewable energy projects.
A REC, or "renewable energy credit," represents one megawatt of energy that has been generated using a renewable, carbon-free method, such as solar panels or windmills. You may sometimes see RECs referred to as credits, green tags, or renewable energy certificates.
RECs help us accurately measure the environmental benefits of green energy. When you purchase a REC, you're supporting renewable energy generation and displacing emissions associated
Information about TVA's Green Power Switch, now known as Green Switch, are coming soon. Please check back for updates.
No — Solar Share participants are unable to select their own solar panel within the array. To ensure consistent power generation benefits for all Solar Share participants, EPB determines each customer's monthly power generation credit by figuring the average power generation of all the panels for that month. This means that if some panels are not as well-positioned in relation to the sun, Solar Share participants are not penalized.
EPB Solar Share is currently sold out due to popular demand. Sign up for email updates to be among the first to hear about new renewable energy projects.
EPB Solar Share has received so much support, it is currently sold out. The demand for local solar energy generation is higher than the number of panels we currently have available, so EPB is working with TVA to determine if we can construct additional solar farms or create other renewable energy options.
Sign up for email updates to be among the first to hear about new renewable energy projects.
Solar Share credits and charges will appear on page 2 of your monthly bill under the "Statement of New Charges" section. You will see your monthly rental based on the number of panels you lease along with your monthly credit below it.
EPB Solar Share is currently sold out due to popular demand. Sign up for email updates to be among the first to hear about new renewable energy projects.
Unfortunately, no. The 30% federal residential income tax credit available under Section 25D of the Internal Revenue Code only applies to homeowners making a capital investment to install solar at their home. Fortunately, Solar Share is built on a scale that allows EPB to offer pricing that is very competitive and often lower than federally subsidized rooftop installations.
EPB Solar Share is currently sold out due to popular demand. Sign up for email updates to be among the first to hear about new renewable energy projects.
Absolutely. Solar Share can offer a host of benefits to our commercial customers and EPB is offering a similar tiered incentive program. Interested commercial customers can call 423-648-1372 and our customer care representatives can connect you with a personal consultant.
Equipment and wiring repairs, equipment inspections, cleaning of the panels as needed, electronic monitoring of the equipment, and administrative costs associated with the operation of the site.
EPB Solar Share is currently sold out due to popular demand. Sign up for email updates to be among the first to hear about new renewable energy projects.
Please call (423) 648-1372 and an EPB representative will be happy to help you.
Solar Share is located along Holtzclaw Avenue across from Warner Park.
EPB Solar Share is currently sold out due to popular demand. Sign up for email updates to be among the first to hear about new renewable energy projects.
The Solar Share array includes 4,408 solar panels on 3.8 acres. The total power output of the entire array is nearly 2 million Kilowatt Hours per year – which could supply the annual energy needs of approximately 130 average homes.
EPB Solar Share is currently sold out due to popular demand. Sign up for email updates to be among the first to hear about new renewable energy projects.
EPB Solar Share is currently sold out due to popular demand. Sign up for email updates to be among the first to hear about new renewable energy projects.
For current Solar Share participants, there are several options. You can buy a multi-year license for a one-time payment of $578 per solar panel, plus a $10 annual maintenance fee per panel in exchange for a monthly bill credit equal to the generation of the total number of panels licensed. Panel licenses can be sold back to EPB at any time for a depreciated rate. You can lease month to month for $3.50 per panel per month, you will receive a monthly bill credit equal to the generation of the total number of panels you select. This low-cost option can be cancelled at any time.
The total power output of the entire array is nearly 2 million Kilowatt Hours per year – which could supply the annual energy needs of approximately 130 average homes.
EPB Solar Share is currently sold out due to popular demand. Sign up for email updates to be among the first to hear about new renewable energy projects.
Our RECs that are available for purchase have been generated by panels that have not been bought or leased yet. They’re available on a first come, first serve basis. These RECs are registered with and tracked by the North American Renewables Registry. After two years, these RECs are retired on a rolling basis.
EPB Solar Share is currently sold out due to popular demand. Sign up for email updates to be among the first to hear about new renewable energy projects.
Residential customers may request to be billed on one of four optional dates each month. To choose a due date that’s right for you, call us at 423-648-1372.
Business customers can call 423-648-1500 to speak with a business account representative about options available to you.
By default, customers receive a simplified bill, showing the amount of electricity used and amount of payment they owe. However, we also offer a detailed bill with a breakdown of costs, including TVA’s current adjustment for the cost of fuel to generate energy.
To start receiving detailed bills, please call us at 423-648-1372.
You will receive emails for when your bills are due. They include the billing amount, due date and a link to paying them online. You can also access previous bills electronically. Make a one-time payment using a credit or debit card or pay by phone or in person or set up autopay for automatic monthly payment.
In the MyEPB online portal you can manage your account information, pay your bills, see your usage history and much, much more.
Because of many factors, TVA’s power rates fluctuate. One factor is TVA’s total monthly fuel cost, which is a mechanism used to recover the cost of fuel (like coal and natural gas) needed to generate power. The total monthly fuel cost is also used to cover the cost of purchasing power outside the TVA service area.
You can make payments at one of three convenient EPB locations:
EPB East Brainerd Branch 830 Eastgate Loop – The EPB East Brainerd Service Center is located at 830 Eastgate Loop. This location offers 24/7 indoor and drive-thru payment machines, equipment returns, and in-person assistance Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
EPB Hixson Branch 2124 North Point Blvd. - The EPB Hixson Service Center is located at 2124 Northpoint Boulevard. This location offers 24/7 indoor and drive-thru payment machines, equipment returns, and in-person assistance Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
EPB Downtown Corporate Office 10 West M.L. King Blvd. - No contact, curbside payment machine on the Market Street side (across from Miller Park) available 24/7. Indoor payment machines available in lobby Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enter through the Broad Street entrance.
NOTE: If you need to pay your bill in cash, the payment machines at these three EPB locations are unable to provide change. Any payment over your bill amount will be credited to your account.
Skip a trip and pay your bill in cash where you already shop
We partner with retailers like Walgreens, CVS and Dollar General so you can conveniently handle your payment right at the checkout counter. It’s the perfect way to fit your bill payment into your day without having to make a special trip to an EPB branch. Click here for simple instructions on how to pay in cash at one of these retail locations.
Since every EPB Electric Power customer account uses power before the first bill is received, we require an initial deposit of $200.00 to cover the cost of this power. However, all new applicants for service undergo a review of their credit history and those with a satisfactory credit rating may have the deposit waived or billed on the first month's bill. Customers with less than satisfactory credit will be required to pay a deposit in advance. Deposits may be paid using Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, debit card or cash in person at one of our three convenient locations and must be paid before electric service can be connected.
Your security deposit – plus interest – may be refunded upon your request after 12 months of continuous service and a good payment record on residential accounts. If you disconnect your service before your deposit is refunded, the full amount of the deposit and any accrued interest will be applied toward your final bill. Any amount remaining will be refunded to you.
If you would like to dispute an EPB Electric Power bill that you think is in error, please contact us at (423) 648-1372. We will not disconnect service for nonpayment of the amount in dispute if you notify us before the bill is past due and you pay all undisputed charges before their due date.
By accepting electric service from EPB Energy, you agree to comply with all Rates, Rules, Regulations, Policies and Procedures that exist at the time service is started. This includes, but is not limited to, obligation to pay for any electric service provided to you by EPB Energy. Failure to abide by EPB Energy’s Rates, Rules, Regulations, Policies and Procedures may cause your electric service to be disconnected. You further agree to pay all expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, associated with the collection of any unpaid amounts for electric service received by you from EPB Energy. Your obligation upon acceptance of service from EPB Energy is subject to any future amendments or modifications to the Rates, Rules, Regulations, Policies and Procedures.
A usage anomaly alert will be sent when there is an unusual spike in your usage that does not appear to be related to the weather. In most cases, it will be identified within a few days of it first occurring. A bill threshold alert could occur due to weather (for example, an extremely cold month in the winter) and will typically only be triggered if aggregate usage is high over a longer time period (like weeks instead of days).
Residential electric rates are determined by many factors, including kilowatt hours used, total monthly fuel costs and operational costs. Click here to see our current residential energy rates, and visit Understanding Your Bill to learn more about how energy rates are determined.
The current Total Monthly Fuel Cost Adjustment used to help determine your energy bills this month can be found by clicking here.
Our current commercial energy rates can be found here. The current Total Monthly Fuel Cost Adjustment used to help determine your energy bills this month can be found by clicking here
The Total Monthly Fuel Cost Adjustment is determined by the cost of the natural gas, coal and other fuels used to generate your power. Because of frequent fluctuations in these fuels, TVA makes an adjustment to the “fuel cost” portion of your electric rate each month based on the current market price of these fuels.
The current Total Monthly Fuel Cost Adjustment used to help determine your energy bills this month can be found by clicking here.
To see our complete residential energy rates, click here. To see our complete commercial energy rates, click here.
