Business ProfileforAthens Utilities

I got home from work Thursday (June 29, 2023) to no internet and a big huge mess in my backyard because the trees were trimmed around the power lines, which they have every right to do. However they maneuvered a lock on one side of my gate so they could drive a big bucket truck in my backyard that left ruts and dead patches of grass. And the trimming is horrible! They also ripped my telephone line down with the truck. So my internet is out and also my neighbors internet line was damaged, so their internet was out too. They were courteous enough to roll the wire up and hang it on the telephone pole though. They knew they did it. I took a lot of pictures to prove it. I have lived there 16 years. They have come and trimmed before and I don't remember them even leaving tree limbs. I am pretty sure they used a pole saw, or at least they did not cause damage with a bucket truck!!! I have to miss a day of work on Monday so new lines can be run to restore my internet. Only one side of my gate was locked because it is broken and opening it makes it worse. I never thought they would bring a bucket truck through that gate! It is right beside my house where my electrical wires and phone wires run into my house and they hang too low for a truck like that to go under without breaking them---OBVIOUSLY! I am currently having an attorney review this situation as to the legality of the padlocked gate being maneuvered around the lock so they could open it. I am also having someone come out to check for damage on my roof from the lines being ripped down. I am very upset and am not going to let this go. I understand that I have to allow them on my property to trim the trees. I don't think I have to allow them to cause damage to my property or break through locks. They say they do it to protect the power lines but do not do anything to protect people's cable and phone lines!