Rural homes, longer runs
Out here the houses sit farther apart and the property often includes a detached garage, a workshop or a barn. Getting power to those buildings properly means the right wire size for the distance, the right burial depth or overhead clearance, and the right disconnect at the building. These details keep lights from dimming and wire from overheating.
Rural power also means rural outages. When a storm takes the line down, a generator inlet with a panel interlock is the safe way to keep the fridge, the well pump and a few lights running.
Which utility?
Depending on where you are, west Blount County homes may be on the Alcoa Electric Department or Fort Loudoun Electric Cooperative. Your bill will say. For a downed line, stay well clear and call the utility.
Do you come out to Friendsville?
Yes. Friendsville and the west side of Blount County are within our service area. Tell us the road when you request service.
Can I run an extension cord to my shed or barn?
Not as a permanent setup. Extension cords aren’t made for constant use, outdoors or underground. A detached building should have a properly sized circuit or feeder, buried or overhead to code, with the right disconnect. That is work for a licensed electrician.
How do I hook up a generator safely?
Use a transfer switch, or an inlet box with a listed interlock on your panel, installed by a licensed electrician. Never back-feed a house through a dryer outlet or a “suicide cord”: it can energize the utility line and kill a lineworker or a neighbor.