AUB OPEN HOUSE SEPT. 23;
EXHIBITS, FOOD, DOOR PRIZES

ATHENS, Tenn. - Athens Utilities Board (AUB) will hold an open house on Thursday, September 23, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at AUB headquarters, 100 Englewood Road.

“These events have been getting better every year,” said AUB spokesman Wayne Scarbrough. “Adults and children alike really seemed to have a good time.”

“The kids always enjoy seeing and learning about the equipment we use. We'll have some great hands-on displays for them this year as well as face painting, balloons, and more, so it’s great fun for the kids.” Scarbrough said. Individual AUB divisions will have informative displays highlighting field hardware and the inner workings of electric power, natural gas, water and wastewater.

In addition to informative displays about operations in power, natural gas, water, wastewater, and meter reading, AUB employees will prepare and serve a hot dog picnic style meal with all the trimmings including Mayfield ice cream sandwiches for dessert.

There will be numerous door prize drawings including coupons for several area retailers with the grand door prize being a $100.00 credit to the winner’s next AUB bill.

There also will be a display highlighting the utility’s Surge Protection Program and AUB’s energy advising program, Scarbrough said. “Our energy advisor does a great job working with customers to find ways to cut consumption through home improvements. And our surge protection program has become a hit with customers who want to protect computers, VCRs, phones, and other appliances from being fried by a high- or low-voltage situation, such as via a lightning strike on the system.”

Scarbrough said that the open house offers every AUB customer a chance to see the operation from the inside.

“For the past couple of years, about 1,000 people turned out for Open House,” he said. ”The visitors seemed to have a great time socializing with us and one another, and our employees get a lot out of it as well. It’s a chance to see each other as neighbors in our community, not just as utility workers and customers.” he said.