ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, August 11, 1996 TAG: 9608090106
SECTION: DISCOVER ROANOKE VALLEY PAGE: 28 EDITION: METRO
If you're moving to the Roanoke Valley or changing residence, you'll need electricity, gas, water, sewer service and telephone. You probably will want cable TV as well.
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
Bell Atlantic Co.: Serves the Roanoke Valley and much of the surrounding area.
If you are in an area served by Bell Atlantic, call 954-6222, residential, or 954-6888 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.
The R & B Telephone Co.: 992-2211, serves communities such as Daleville, Fincastle, Eagle Rock, Troutville, Cloverdale and Oriskany in Botetourt County.
Sprint/Centel-Virginia: 483-5108, serving part of Franklin County, Boones Mill, Rocky Mount, Burnt Chimney, Union Hall and Ferrum. 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 $21 installation fee for a home visit, $47.15 if new jacks are required.
Electricity
American Electric Power: 40 Franklin Road S.W., 985-2723, provides service for Roanoke and much of the region. The Rocky Mount office, 483-5272, serves Franklin County.
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 without a late payment. If power already is available to your residence, there will be a small charge for the initial reading of the meter and establishing service. There is a $12 connect fee.
Salem residents are served by the Salem Electric Co., which buys power from AEP 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. A $29-$33 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, Alleghany 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 service.
Bedford City Electricity: 586-7144, 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., Room 252, 981-2455. New customers must come to the office with personal identification and sign a contract; a $20 service fee is charged. The minimum charge is $6.18 for water, $1.47 for sewer per 100 cubic feet, both for a three-month billing period, and goes up depending on the amount of water used.
Roanoke County Utility: 5204 Bernard Dr., 772-2024. A $25 deposit is the residential charge for water and sewer, and $50 for sewer alone. A $100 deposit is the commercial charge for water. For each 1,000 gallons of water used, $2.05 is charged. The sewer service is $1.28 per 1,000 gallons. Both have a variable base cost and are billed monthly.
Vinton Utilities Department: Treasurer's office, Vinton, 983-0608. Refundable deposits are $25 for homeowners; renters are asked to deposit $50. The minimum charge is $15 every two months.
Bedford City Utilities Connection: 586-7144. 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 flat rate for sewage.
Bedford County Utilities: County administration building, 586-7679. A flat rate of $15 and $3.56 for each 1,000 gallons every two months. For sewer, the rate is a flat $15 and $3.25 for each 1,000 gallons every two months.
Craig-New Castle Public Service Authority: Virginia 680, New Castle, 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 1-800-552-6514, and Rainelle, W.Va., (304) 438-8702.
Roanoke Gas Co: 519 Kimball Ave. N.E., 983-3800. This natural gas company serves Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem, Vinton and parts of Montgomery, Botetourt and Bedford counties.
Commonwealth Propane Co: 1-800-535-3804, 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, Giles, Carroll, Grayson, Giles, Bland, Roanoke,Montgomery, Pulaski counties and the New River Valley. The cost is based on usage.
Cable TV
Cox Cable Roanoke: 5400 Fallowater Lane, 776-3848. Limited basic cable (14 channels) $8.34 a month in Roanoke and $8.56 in Roanoke County and Vinton. Complete basic (45 channels) $24.87 in Roanoke, $25.46 in Roanoke County and $25.41 in Vinton. Cinemax, Showtime and Movie Channel are $10.95 each, and Home Box Office is $11.95. Discount packages available. Pay-per-view movies, $3.95 each (special events priced separately). Franchise and user fees not included in pricing. Also offers Digital Cable Radio $8.95. Serves Roanoke, Roanoke County, Vinton.
Salem Cable TV Co.: 21 S. Bruffey St., Salem, 389-9385. Hookup costs $22.55 an hour; monthly charge for basic cable (15 channels) is $7.65; for expanded cable (46 channels), $23.40. Showtime and Movie Channel are $11.75, Home Box Office 1&2 are $11.75 and Cinemax is $11.75. Disney Channel is $8.25. Pay-per-view movies, $3.95 each (special events priced separately). Serves Salem and the western portion of Roanoke County.
AMC-Franklin County Cable-vision: Box 7, Route 655, Redwood, 489-1300. Hookup charge $20; discounts available. Basic cable (42 channels) $21.58 per month. Home Box Office, $9.50; Cinemax, $9; Disney, $7; Showtime and Movie Channel, $9.50. Package discounts available. Serves Franklin County, the Vista Pointe area of Pittsylvania County and Boones Mill.
Rocky Mount Cablevision: 669 West Franklin St., Rocky Mount, 483-0238. Hookup charge, $35.15-$64.43. Restarts, $17.57. Budget basic cable (13 channels), $9.75 per month. Budget basic and cablevision service (42 channels), $20.25 per month. Home Box Office, $10.95; Cinemax, $8.95; Disney Channel, $8.95; Showtime, $6.95. Serves the city of Rocky Mount and some surrounding areas of the county.
Telemedia Company of Virginia: P.O. Box 627, Troutville 24175, 41 Lee Highway South, 992-4144. Installation fees vary; specials available periodically. Lifeline (11 channels) in Botetourt County is $10.19 per month; in Bedford County (10 channels), $11.29. Basic Tier Package in Botetourt County (17 channels) is $17.25 per month; in Bedford County (16 channels), $17.16. Home Box Office, $11.50; Cinemax, $11.50; Showtime, $11.50; The Movie Channel, $11.50; Disney Channel, $8.95. Package discounts available. Franchise fees not included in pricing. Serves Botetourt and Bedford counties.
Time-Warner Cable: P.O. 950, Dobson, N.C. 27017, (800) 344-9005. Hookup charge $31. Full-service cable (Basic plus Tier, 27 channels), $22.85 per month. Basic (10 channels) $11.25. Home Box Office, Showtime and Cinemax, $10.95 each per month. Disney Channel, $8. Discount packages available. Serves Max Meadows, Fort Chiswell, Austinville. It also serves New Castle and Floyd. Hookup charge $31. Full service cable (22 channels), $22.85 per month. Broadcast basic (10 channels) $11.25. Home Box Office, Showtime and Cinemax, $10.95 each per month. Disney Channel, $8. Discount packages available.
Bedford Cable-Vision: 715 Industrial Ave., Bedford, 586-5310. Hookup costs $35.15-$64.45. Budget basic cable (9 channels), $9 per month. Budget basic and cablevision service (31 channels) $23.48 per month. Home Box Office and Cinemax, $10.95. Showtime, $8.95. Disney Channel, $8.95. The Movie Channel, $8.95. Serves the city of Bedford and some county areas.
Lynchburg Cablevision: 2820 Linkhorne Drive, Lynchburg, (804) 384-1000. Hookup charge, $26.53. Basic cable (16 channels), $9.27 per month. Standard cable (28 channels) $15.55 per month. Home Box Office 1&2, $10.95; Cinemax, $10.95; Showtime, $10.95; Disney Channel, $8 per month. Additional channels and package discounts are available.
Buchanan Cable-Vision: 715 Industrial Ave., Bedford, (800) 564-8079. Hookup charge $35.15-$64.43. Full basic cable (20 channels) $17.71. Home Box Office is $11.95 per month; Showtime, $10.95 per month.
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