Press Release

NC Public Power Communities Come to Raleigh for 2007 Public Power Rally Day

Raleigh, NC, April 18, 2007 – Mayors, Council Members, City Managers and Utility Directors from North Carolina public power communities will attend the annual Public Power Rally Day today at the General Assembly. The group will meet with legislators to show their support for NC cities and towns that own and operate their city electric distribution systems.

Public power leaders support the continued growth and prosperity of NC’s cities, especially the 72 cities and towns that own and operate electric systems. City-owned electric systems contribute to the financial strength of the city. NC public power communities can remain strong and viable contributors to the NC economy when laws encourage growth, with no unfair advantages for any one electric provider. City officials will stress their support of the fair laws that are in place now.

Last week, House Bill 1395 was introduced, a bill that may subject public power cities and towns to increased regulation and restrict electric territory. City leaders will urge legislators to oppose the bill.

ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc. (ElectriCities), North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number One (NCMPA1), North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA) - More than 70 North Carolina public power communities, municipally owned and operated electric systems, serve more than 500,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in North Carolina. ElectriCities' members in NC, SC and VA serve more than one million customers. Most have been providing reliable electric service for 100 years or more. ElectriCities is the service organization that provides customer service and safety training, emergency and technical assistance, communications, government affairs and legal services to public power cities. ElectriCities provides management services to the states two municipal power agencies: NCMPA1 and NCEMPA. NCMPA1 has 19 member cities in the western part of North Carolina and NCEMPA has 32 member cities in eastern North Carolina. More information about ElectriCities, the power agencies and public power is available on the Internet at www.electricities.com or at www.ncpublicpower.com.

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