What is ElectriCities?

ElectriCities is a not-for-profit government service organization representing cities, towns and universities that own electric distribution systems. Today, ElectriCities represents more than 90 members in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

Formed back in 1965 to protect the interests of Public Power customers, and to provide a unified voice to speak out in the North Carolina legislature, ElectriCities continues today to serve Public Power communities.

ElectriCities provides customer service and safety training, emergency and technical assistance, communications, government affairs and legal services. Through consolidation of these services, members save their customers the expense of administering these functions locally. ElectriCities also provides management services to the state’s two municipal Power Agencies: North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 (NCMPA1) and North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA). Most member cities have been in the electric business for 100 years or more.

Originally the cities built small generators in their hometowns. In some cases, the municipalities set up their own systems when other power suppliers refused to serve these communities. As their population grew and their generators aged, the cities became wholesale purchasers of electricity from the state's investor-owned utilities (IOUs).

During the energy crisis of the mid-70s, the IOUs feared shortages and were unable to guarantee future power supply. The state needed additional power plants but the IOUs were having difficulty raising the necessary capital for construction. After considering concerns about reliability, cost, and long-term supply of electricity, the North Carolina Legislature enacted legislation to enable cities to join together to form Municipal Power Agencies, paving the way for cities to enter the generation business. Fifty-one cities in North Carolina chose to form two Municipal Power Agencies and issued electric revenue bonds. Combined, the Power Agencies own portions of five nuclear and two coal-fired plants totaling more than 1450 MW of generation capacity.

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Mission Statement

Core Purpose

Mission

ElectriCities provides: (1) Representation and advocacy for the members and their customers in the legislative and regulatory processes; and (2) Information, expertise and other resources that enhance the members’ ability to meet or exceed the expectations of the communities they serve.

The Power Agencies provide (1) Economic and reliable generation and transmission services that enable the members to meet the needs of their customers; and (2) Additional opportunities that enhance the Members’ ability to provide excellent services to their customers.

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