Carroll County Electric ‘Writes Off’ Bad Debt

HUNTINGDON (June 25) — During its June 25th meeting, the Board of Directors of the Carroll County Electric Department (CCED) approved writing off $85,048.70 in uncollected customer accounts. While this amount represents a slight increase from 2025, it remains well below the 0.2 percent benchmark for electric sales revenue, currently standing at 0.117 percent.

Office Manager Kelly Fields noted that higher write-offs are largely attributed to reduced collections and increased electricity rates, specifically following the cold weather in January that impacted March billing cycles. Approximately 98 to 99 percent of these write-offs stem from residential accounts, often involving customers who have moved out of the county. Fields emphasized that the write-off is an accounting step to comply with GASB standards; however, CCED will continue its collection efforts. Any customer seeking to restore service in the future must pay their outstanding balance before new service is granted.

In other business, the Board addressed a vehicle procurement bid for a 2026 F-150, involving the trade-in of a 2015 Ford Explorer. Peppers Ford of McKenzie submitted a bid of $40,599, while Steve Marsh Ford of Milan offered $37,398. Despite the higher price, the Board voted unanimously to accept the bid from Peppers Ford, the lone in-county dealer, citing the fact that the vehicle was already in stock compared to a multi-week delivery estimate from the Milan dealership.

General Manager Ryan Drewry provided an operational report highlighting significant electrical transmission line upgrades and pole replacements scheduled for the weekend along Highway 70W. The four-hour project, beginning at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, will involve the full linemen crew with support from the Carroll County Rescue Squad, local law enforcement, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation for traffic control. These upgrades are essential for the installation of a new substation in the Leach community, which is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2027. Drewry also confirmed that 161-KV breakers, which were ordered two years ago, have finally arrived at the downtown headquarters.

To mitigate the impact of extreme summer heat, Drewry informed the Board that line crews will operate on a summer schedule from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through August.

Chairman Lori Nolen announced that CCED contractors will now display signage featuring the department’s logo on their vehicles to ensure clear identification while operating in the field.

The meeting concluded with a tribute to Samantha Carlton, the widow of Chance Carlton, for her advocacy in establishing the “Chance Carlton Law” in Tennessee. The legislation, which designates linemen as first responders, provides $50,000 annually for five years to the surviving family of a lineman who dies in a work-related accident. Chance Carlton lost his life in a work-related accident while serving CCED during a severe storm.

The next meeting is July 30, 2:30 p.m. at the downtown Huntingdon office.