UTILITIES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 85 the French Broad River, provides water to over 11,000 customers and has the capacity to treat six million gallons of water per day, meeting or exceeding water quality standards.

In 2017, the NU Board approved its newest essential service: NUconnect Broadband. Planned as a seven year project, NUconnect delivers broadband internet, video and voice services over a proprietary fiber network. As of Spring, 2022, more than half of NU’s electric customers have access to this fiber-rich broadband system, including many neighborhoods that never had broadband access before. NU recently launched an advanced fixed wireless network to provide broadband service to many neighborhoods where fiber is not yet available.

A five-member board oversees policy and operations. The 2022 Chairman is Craig Wild.

For more information, call Newport Utilities at 423-625-2800.