EPB President and CEO Harold DePriest speaks during a news conference held Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at the company's downtown Chattanooga, Tenn., headquarters to address city streetlight billing. The company announced that it has hired an independent auditor to review the issues.
HomeServe CEO Tom Rusin, left, speaks with Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger Friday, November 20, 2015 during a celebration of the company's fifth anniversary.EPB is joining with HomeServe USA to offer its customers home repair options through HomeServe.
The city-owned electric and cable provider said Tuesday it will make available HomeServe's optional exterior and interior electric line service plans, along with HomeServe's water heater repair or replacement plans, to all EPB customers. The pilot program will initially be offered via direct mail to residents of the Brainerd, North Chattanooga and Red Bank communities.
Through the program, HomeServe will offer three products including Exterior Electric Line, Interior Electric Line and Water Heater service plans, all designed to shield homeowners from the inconvenience and unexpected expenses associated with repairs.
"Our cost-effective service plans provide a better way for customers to pay for and obtain repairs through our reliable network of qualified local contractors," Tom Rusin, CEO of HomeServe USA, said in a statement. "HomeServe's level of commitment to customers is shared by EPB, exemplified by the company's depth and quality of services. We're especially thrilled to have a partnership in Chattanooga, home to our flagship contact center, which will enable our employees and their families who are EPB customers to also take advantage of our plans."
EPB, which is government owned, and Home Service, a private company which located one of its call centers in Chattanooga five years ago using EPB's fiber optic communications, will both contribute to a new community funding resource for home repairs, which will be available through the United Way for area residents.
HomeServe provides plan holders with a Repair Hotline, accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and provides homeowners with local, licensed, and insured contractors to come to their home for repairs.
J.Ed. Marston, vice president of marketing at EPB, said the utility is "proud to work with HomeServe to provide our residents with a valuable benefit to help with unexpected home repairs.
"Since HomeServe USA employs hundreds of local people to deliver exceptional customer service across the United States and Canada, they are a great option for our customers who are interested in home repair solutions," Marston said.
In Chattanooga, HomeServe will offer exterior electric line service for $4.99 a month, interior electric line protection for $5.99 a month and water heater and appliance repair protection for $8.99 a month.