Knoxville Utilities Board

What Knoxville Utilities Board does

Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) is a publicly-owned, not-for-profit municipal utility headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, established in 1939. The utility provides electric distribution, natural gas distribution, water, and wastewater services to residential and commercial customers across seven East Tennessee counties (Knox, Blount, Anderson, Union, Grainger, Jefferson, and Sevier). Electric supply is sourced exclusively from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), with more than 80 cents of every electric dollar flowing to TVA as a passthrough; KUB retains less than 20 cents per dollar as distribution margin. Natural gas is procured on the open market with cost passthrough, while water and wastewater operate on tiered consumption-based rate structures.

KUB's underlying technology stack includes electric and natural gas distribution networks, water and wastewater treatment infrastructure, advanced metering infrastructure (Sensus iPerl smart water meters), and the KUB Fiber broadband network. The utility operates a Natural Gas System Survey Program using laser-based and helicopter aerial surveys for system monitoring. Customer-facing digital infrastructure includes an outage notification system with a real-time interactive map, online account portal, paperless billing with 18 months of history, and the KUB ConnectED program providing free fiber to income-eligible K-12 students.

KUB's revenue model combines usage-based volumetric charges with fixed monthly basic service fees across all four regulated services, plus subscription-based KUB Fiber internet. The go-to-market is direct utility delivery within an exclusive franchised service territory, supplemented by commercial programs including Enhanced Growth Credits ($6/kW for new/expanding loads), Time-of-Use electric pricing, and dedicated Key Account Representatives. Assistance programs (Project Help, Round It Up, Home Uplift weatherization) are funded through a network of approximately 200 partner agencies, including community action committees serving low-income customers.

Name

Knoxville Utilities Board

Legal name

Knoxville Utilities Board

Website

https://kub.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Knoxville Utilities Board is a not-for-profit municipal utility providing electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, and fiber internet services to residential and commercial customers across seven East Tennessee counties, with electricity sourced exclusively from TVA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Utility Services

NAICS

Utilities (22), Natural Gas Distribution (22121), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Natural Gas Distribution (4924)

akta.pro primary industry

Regulated Residential & SMB Retail Supply (Default/Standard Offer) (EUAGABAA)

Keywords

• Municipal utility services
• Electric power distribution
• Natural gas distribution
• Water and wastewater services
• Fiber internet services

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electricity Distribution: KUB purchases electricity from TVA (single provider) and distributes it to customers. More than 80 cents of every dollar customers pay goes to TVA for power supply. KUB keeps less than 20 cents as margin to maintain and operate the electric system. Rates vary monthly based on TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA).
2. Natural Gas Distribution: KUB purchases natural gas on the open market and adds the cost of delivery without markup. Rates vary based on market prices, smoothed through purchasing throughout the year.
3. Water and Wastewater Services: Water distribution and wastewater collection and treatment services with tiered rate structures based on consumption volume.
4. KUB Fiber Services: High-speed fiber internet, TV, and home phone services offered to residential and business customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) is a publicly-owned municipal utility that distributes electricity (purchased from TVA), natural gas, water, and wastewater services to residential and commercial customers in the greater Knoxville, Tennessee area. KUB also operates KUB Fiber, providing high-speed fiber internet, TV, and home phone services as Knoxville's only locally-owned fiber provider, supported by local customer support staff. The utility delivers all services through direct physical infrastructure connections within its exclusive service territory.

Product overview

KUB is a municipal utility providing multiple core services: electricity (sourced from TVA), natural gas, water, wastewater, and high-speed fiber internet. The company operates as a bundled utility with several add-on programs including billing options (Levelized Billing, Paperless Billing, Property Management Plan), assistance programs (Project Help, Round It Up, Water Savers), and the Century II infrastructure maintenance program. All services are delivered through a customer-facing portal with outage notification capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KUB Electric Service Electricity distribution service delivered to residential and commercial customers within the KUB service territory. Power is purchased from TVA and distributed through KUB's local grid infrastructure, with rates varying monthly based on the TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment.
• KUB Natural Gas Service

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 1,800 homes weatherized through assistance programs
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026TVA is KUB's single provider of electricity, generating and selling power to KUB for distribution to customers. TVA also partners with KUB on Home Uplift weatherization program providing $1.25 million in grants through TDEC OEP.
• EPB (Electric Power Board)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026EPB is a partner with KUB in the TVA Home Uplift Program, which provides energy efficiency and weatherization measures to low-income households.
• MLGW (Memphis Light, Gas and Water)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026MLGW is a partner with KUB in the TVA Home Uplift Program, which provides energy efficiency and weatherization measures to low-income households.
• NES (Nashville Electric Service)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026NES is a partner with KUB in the TVA Home Uplift Program, which provides energy efficiency and weatherization measures to low-income households.
• Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2026Witching Hour startup in Innovation Crossroads program is using ORNL's Powerline Conductor Accelerated Testing Facility to develop wildfire prevention technology. While this is a startup partnership, it relates to grid technology advancement in the region.
• Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAC works with KUB to provide bill payment assistance and administers weatherization programs for low-income households. KUB customer counselors work with approximately 200 partner agencies.
• Blount County Community Action Agency (CAA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides LIHEAP assistance to Blount County residents in KUB service area.
• East Tennessee Human Resources Agency (ETHRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacilitates Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for Anderson and Union County residents in KUB service area.
• Douglas-Cherokee Economic AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers LIHEAP for Grainger, Jefferson, and Sevier County residents in KUB service area.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• CPS Energy: Largest municipally-owned combined electric and natural gas utility in the United States, serving San Antonio. Comparable to KUB on the regulated municipal electric + gas bundle and not-for-profit charter.
• EPB (Electric Power Board of Chattanooga): Tennessee municipal utility serving Chattanooga with electric distribution and a well-known fiber internet division (EPB Fiber Optics). Direct peer to KUB on the electric-plus-fiber bundled municipal utility model and a co-partner in the TVA Home Uplift Program.
• Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW): Largest three-service municipal utility in the U.S., serving Memphis with electric, natural gas, and water. Directly comparable to KUB on multi-utility municipal structure and bundled residential service, and a co-partner in the TVA Home Uplift Program.
• Austin Energy: Community-owned electric utility serving Austin, TX. Peer on municipal electric distribution with strong sustainability/renewables programs, similar positioning to KUB's environmental stewardship focus.
• JEA (Jacksonville Electric Authority): Community-owned municipal utility serving Jacksonville, FL with electric, water, and wastewater services. Closest comparable to KUB on the electric + water + wastewater bundled municipal model and customer-assistance mission.
• Nashville Electric Service (NES): Municipal electric distribution utility serving Nashville, Tennessee. Direct peer to KUB's electric utility operations and a co-partner in the TVA Home Uplift Program.
• Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC): Municipal utility serving Orlando with electric, water, and chilled water services. Comparable to KUB's multi-service municipal model with regulated local monopoly.

Broad incumbents

• Consolidated Edison (Con Edison): Investor-owned utility providing regulated electric, gas, and steam service in the New York region. Not-for-profit/MUO structure differs, but a broad incumbent on bundled electric + gas distribution to residential and commercial customers.
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP): Largest municipal utility in the U.S., providing electric and water service to Los Angeles. Broad incumbent peer on the municipal electric + water bundle model.
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD): Large California community-owned electric utility. Comparable as a broad municipal electric incumbent with generation, retail, and renewables exposure, though heavier on generation than KUB.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KnoxKUB
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Knoxville-Utilities-Board/159210427428
• Instagraminstagram.com/knoxvilleutilitiesboard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Knoxville Utilities Board