Frequently Asked Questions

We typically trim or remove trees on a regular cycle of 4 to 5 years. We also trim on an as-needed basis or by customer request. However, if storms or strong winds come to our service area, we assess the damage and work with the Public Works Department and/or tree trimming companies (depending on the severity of the damage) to remove hazardous trees or limbs.

AED only trims trees that pose a potential hazard to primary or secondary power lines and trims trees that have grown within the line clearance trim zone. Trees directly under the power lines and trees considered a danger to fall into the lines (typically dead or leaning trees) may be removed. These are normally the lines that run parallel with the street. We typically do not remove trees interfering with service wires (wires running directly from the house to a transformer), as these are the customer's responsibility.

If the tree in question poses an immediate, serious or dangerous threat to your electric system, we will be glad to send an AED representative to assess the situation. We contract with certified arborists to ensure healthy and safe pruning methods are used.

Primary Distribution lines will be trimmed to a minimum clearance of 10 feet from closest conductor. Limbs may be trimmed further from the lines to comply with lateral trimming methods. Limbs overhanging lines will be trimmed as high as possible. We will make every effort to eliminate weak, diseased and dead limbs above the wires that may fall or blow into the wires. See link below for standard clearances.

City of Alcoa Trimming Clearances

AED only trims trees for Electric line clearance in the interest of reliability and safety of our workforce and customers. As such, you may find that your tree does not have a symmetrical appearance following our trimming. Each tree is different, however, as the amount of lateral trimming that has to be performed depends on how the tree might interfere with power lines. In most cases, a few months of re-growth makes a big difference in appearance following pruning. With lateral trimming, the re-growth is naturally directed away from the power lines.

The Alcoa Electric Department only contracts with qualified tree companies who meet our guidelines and specifications. 

If we are trimming and removing during routine maintenance, we will chip limbs under 6" in diameter if it is in a maintained area. Brush resulting from tree trimming may not always be picked up immediately. Residents should allow 7 days for clean up, after which a call may be made to the electric department at 380-4890. However, large wood (greater than 6” diameter) in a maintained area will be cut into manageable size pieces and left as close to the stump as feasible. Property Owners can call into the City of Alcoa Electric Department and request large wood to be left in longer lengths than manageable size pieces. If trees are removed and brush is cut in an unmaintained area, the aforementioned will be chopped up and/or placed to lie flat with the terrain.  Vegetation in an unmaintained area will not be chipped or hauled off. The City of Alcoa Electric Department will not chip, haul or remove brush, debris or trees that have fallen due to natural causes or have to be cut for storm restoration purposes by City of Alcoa Electric Department employees or by employees from our contracted tree companies. Our primary responsibility, during a restoration event, is to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

There are a variety of ways to pay your utility bill: 

• Online
• Over the phone (865-380-4890)
• Placed in the drop-box in the Municipal Building parking lot on the north side of the building
• By using the PowerPal App on a mobile device.
• Bank Draft
• In Person at 223 Associates Blvd. Alcoa TN 37701

For more information, please visit our Pay Your Bill page

The residential deposits are as follows, $175 for electric, $50 for water, and $75 for sewer. Commercial and industrial deposits are two times the highest bill. Also, you must pay a $25 service fee along with your deposit. Please call our main office at 865-380-4700 and ask to speak to a New Service Representative for details.

Residents can learn more about acceptable and unacceptable materials at the Waste Connections website, linked below. Questions may also be directed to Alcoa's Sanitation Services Division at 865-380-4800. For missed collections, please call Waste Connections at (865) 522-8161.  

You can obtain an accident report if the crash occurred on the roadway at here. 

If the accident occurred on private property or in a parking lot, we provide accident reports to involved parties at no cost. We do not provide accident reports to insurance companies. Property damage or private property reports are usually available 3-5 business days after an accident is reported.

Please contact the Court Clerk at 865-981-4111.

Alcoa Municipal Code Section 11-708 Curfew for Minors describes the ordinance for minors.

“It is unlawful for any person who has not reached his/her eighteenth (18th) birthday to loiter, wander, stroll, or play in or upon the public streets, sidewalks, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places, public buildings, places of amusement, eating places, vacant lots or any place unsupervised by an adult having the lawful authority to be at such places between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Sunday through Friday and between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Friday through Sunday”; with some exceptions.

The exceptions include when the person is accompanied by an adult; on an authorized errand or out during curfew hours while employed. However, remember, if a police officer observes a person who appears to be under the age of eighteen years of age, he or she has the authority to detain that person to determine if they are in violation of the curfew laws. For further review, you may

Property is returned by appointment only. Please call 865-981-4111, ext. 5201 for an appointment.

For items of evidence to be returned, proof that the court has approved the return of the item and your photo ID must be provided.

For all other property, a photo ID and any documentation confirming that you own the property must be provided. In the event that there is no paperwork proving ownership, you must be able to properly describe the property you are claiming.

To check the sex offender registry, view the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) 

For more information view our

Only to Commercial Unit classifications that meet discount criteria. Residential Units do not qualify for discounts. To learn more about the Commercial Unit criteria for discounts, visit our

Since rain falls on all property, all property will be charged a Stormwater Fee unless it falls under the “Exempt Properties" category. Schools, churches, city property, etc. will be charged like any other commercial property – based on the number of ERUs on the site.

You may read more about Exempt Properties on our

Please download the Residential Routes List for more information.  

Please visity the Brush and Bulky Waste information and calendar page. 

Please download the Residential Recycling Calendar.

To find out when bulky waste and brush are collected, view the Brush and Bulky Waste information page. 

During normal business, contact the Public Works and Engineering Offices at 865-380-4800. After hours, on holidays, and on weekends call the after-hours emergency number: 865-380-4921. A Water and Wastewater crew will be dispatched to determine the probable cause of the problem.

If the problem is determined to be a blockage in the City’s sewer main, the crew will clear the blockage then verify with the customer that their backup has stopped. If the main is clear or the customer’s backup continues after clearing the main, the customer will be advised to contact a plumber for repairs.

During normal business, contact the Public Works and Engineering Offices at 865-380-4800. After hours, on holidays and weekends call the after-hours emergency number: 865-380-4921.

For all information concerning COVID-19, please visit our Blount Intergovernmental Information Website. 

Call 865-380-4700 and ask to speak to a New Service Representative if you have questions regarding your new, disconnected, or transferred service.

To start or transfer service, please come to the Alcoa Utilities Business Office at 223 Associates Boulevard in the Springbrook Corporate Center.

To apply for service, applicants should bring a legal photo ID or two forms of identification and the address of new location. If you are renting, a rent receipt or lease agreement is required. To obtain service, the applicant will pay a service fee and a deposit. For residential customers, the deposit can be credited to your account if you pay your monthly utility bill on time consecutively for 12 months. 

If you have a name change request for the name on your utility account, please bring in signed proof of the reason for changing the name (i.e. death certificate if the person’s name on the account is deceased or divorce certificate if divorced).

If you have a change of mailing address or change of phone number for your account, please call 865-380-4700 and ask to speak to a clerk and follow their instructions. You will need to sign a Change of Address Form in order to change your mailing address as of August 2006.

There are a variety of ways to pay your utility bill: 

• Online
• Over the phone (865-380-4890)
• Placed in the drop-box in the Municipal Building parking lot on the north side of the building
• By using the PowerPal App on a mobile device.
• Bank Draft
• In Person at 223 Associates Blvd. Alcoa TN 37701

For more information, please visit our Pay Your Bill page

The residential deposits are as follows: $175 for electric, $50 for water, and $75 for sewer. Commercial and industrial deposits are two times the highest bill. Also, you must pay a $25 service fee along with your deposit. Please call our main office at 865-380-4700 and ask to speak to a New Service Representative for details.

The City of Alcoa is rated a Class 1 ISO as of July 1, 2021.

Property owners can opt-out by signing and abiding by our Rights-of-way Agreement. This agreement is between the City of Alcoa Electric Department and the property owner and requires the property owner to continually maintain a clean rights-of-way, except concerning compatible species such as dogwood (Cornus Florida) or Black Haw (Viburnum Prunifolium). 

As a courtesy, we make every effort to inform our customers. We have pre-planners that go door to door ahead of time and leave door tags if no one is home. We also send out text to those who have an updated cell phone on file with the Electric Department. We also have information available on our website. 

Our contractors use low volume methods. Individuals walk our rights-of-way with backpacks or work out of a UTV. This year treatment will consist of a stem treatment during the dormant season and follow up foliar spot treatment only in areas where we did not receive our desired kill rate with the stem treatment. 

We only use herbicide in a particular area approximately one year after cutting crews have been through an area. We are on a cycle program and thus after cutting an area and then applying herbicide it will be at least 3-4 years before we are back to a particular area. 

We are only targeting broad leaf species that have the potential to grow up into our power systems. We use selective herbicide mixes that do not target grasses. 

The contractor has let us know that they plan to use the following chemicals (we have included the MSDS links for each)

For low volume spraying:

Currently, the City of Alcoa cannot do in-house inspections. This webpage by NPR gives step-by-step instructions on how to identify your service line material. If you're unable to do the assessment yourself, you may consider hiring a local plumber to be sure your pipes are correctly identified. 

Please note that boiling water does not remove lead contaminants in your water supply. If you are concerned about your pipe material, you may want to use a water filter certified to remove lead. Make sure any filter your use is properly installed and that the filter cartridge is replaced on time. Never run hot water through a water filter. Learn more about water filters on this webpage. 

The EPA offers several tips to help lower the odds of lead exposure in your home.