Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 1, 1993 TAG: 9307300441
SECTION: DISCOVER PAGE: D-29 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
You may be required to visit utility offices, and in some cases - depending on your credit rating - pay deposits and service charges.
Here are some of the guidelines for taking care of the basics: \ Telephone
\ CHESAPEAKE & POTOMAC TELEPHONE CO.: Serves the Roanoke Valley and much of the surrounding area. The Roanoke and Botetourt Telephone Co., 992-2211, serves communities such as Daleville, Fincastle, Eagle Rock, Troutville, Cloverdale and Oriskany in Botetourt County.
If you are in an area served by C&P, call 954-6222, residential or 964-6290 for business. Installation costs $38.50; the charges go up with installation of new outlets. New subscribers may be required to pay a deposit and an advance payment.
\ NEW CASTLE TELEPHONE CO: 864-5131, serving New Castle and Paint Bank areas, charges new homeowners a $60.25 installation fee for a home visit.
\ PEMBROKE TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE: 626-7111, serving a small portion of Craig County and the eastern end of Giles County, charges new homeowners a $47.15 installation fee for a home visit.\ \ Electricity
\ APPALACHIAN POWER CO: 40 Franklin Road S.W., 985-2723, provides service for Roanoke and much of the region.
First-time customers must contact the nearest office serving their area to apply for service. A deposit equal to two months' estimated billing is normally required; it will be refunded when a satisfactory payment record has been established for 12 months. If power already is available to your residence, there will be a small charge for the initial reading of the meter and establishing service.
Salem residents are served by the SALEM ELECTRIC CO., which buys power from Apco and resells it. This company also provides water and sewer service to Salem residents. New customers must go to the office at 114 N. Broad St. to start service. An $18 service charge is required. Renters must pay a deposit of $50 to $250, based on an estimated two-month bill. The telephone number is 375-3021.
\ CRAIG-BOTETOURT ELECTRICAL CO-OP: New Castle, 864-5121, serves rural areas of the Virginia counties of Botetourt, Craig, Roanoke, Montgomery, Allegheny and Giles and Monroe County, W.Va.
Customers must become members of the co-op by paying a refundable $5 fee. There is a minimum monthly charge of $11 for residential.
\ BEDFORD CITY PUBLIC SERVICE: 586-7102, provides electrical service in the city. Renters of an all-electric home must pay a $100 deposit. Customers who use other means of heating pay a $50 deposit. If the customer pays the bills promptly, the deposit is refunded after one year. The minimum charge is $5.94 per month.
\ Water and sewer
\ ROANOKE CITY WATER DEPARTMENT: 215 Church Ave. S.W., 981-2455. New customers must come to the office and sign a contract; a $20 service fee is charged. The minimum charge is $6.18 for water, 97 cents for sewer 100 cubic feet, both for a three-month billing period, and goes up depending on the amount of water used.
\ ROANOKE COUNTY UTILITY: 3738 Brambleton Ave., 772-2024. A $25-$100 deposit is charged for water. For each 1,000 gallons of water used, $1.69 is charged. The sewer service is 90 cents per 1,000 gallons. Both have a variable base cost and are billed quarterly.
\ VINTON UTILITIES DEPARTMENT: Municipal Building, Vinton, 983-0614. Refundable deposits are $10 for homeowners; renters are asked to deposit $25. The minimum charge is $15 every two months.
\ BEDFORD CITY PUBLIC SERVICE: 586-7102. A deposit of $35 is required for new customers. It is refundable after one year in good standing. The rate for water is $7.50 for the first 3,000 gallons, meter reading charge, $2. The flat rate for sewer service is $9.75 for up to 3,000 gallons. Outside the city limits, the flat rate is $8.63 for water, meter reading charge $2.30, and $11.21 for sewage.
\ BEDFORD COUNTY UTILITIES: County administration building, 586-7679. A flat rate of $42.50 every two months up to 8,500 gallons of water; $3.70 for each additional 1,000 gallons up to 34,000 gallons; and $2.50 for each additional 1,000 gallons above 34,001 gallons. For sewer, the rate is $15 per month for 5,000 gallons (two-month billing period) and $3.00 for each additional 1,000.
\ CRAIG-NEW CASTLE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY: Virginia 680, New Castle, telephone 864-6368. Provides water and sewer service to Craig County and New Castle. The deposit is $100 for renters and a $25 turn-on fee. Homeowners are not required to pay a deposit. For residential customers, there is a minimum charge of $8 per month for up to 2,000 gallons and $4 per 1,000 gallons above 2,000. For sewer, the rate is $16 for 2,000 gallons and $5 for each additional 1,000. \ Natural gas
\ HIGHLAND PROPANE CO: 519 Kimball Ave. N.E., 343-7928. Highland Propane serves the Roanoke Valley, Bedford, all of Southwest Virginia and part of southern West Virginia. Offices in Bluefield, (304) 327-7161 or (800) 552-6514, and Rainelle, W.Va., (304) 438-8702.
\ ROANOKE GAS CO: 519 Kimball Ave. N.E., 344-6651. This natural gas company serves Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem, Vinton and parts of Montgomery and Botetourt counties.
\ COMMONWEALTH PROPANE CO: (804) 522-8588 or (800) 535-3804, offers propane delivery to parts of Bedford City and County. The cost is based on usage.
\ SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA GAS SERVICE CORP: 111 Harrison St., Radford, 639-1611. Provides propane gas delivery service to residents in the Craig County area. The cost is based on usage.
For information on cable television hookup, please refer to page 92.
by CNB