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Each year at the ElectriCities Annual Conference, we recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to public power.

At the 2025 conference:

• Cody Leis from Statesville received the Rising Star Award.
• Bill Stockman from Lexington received the Distinguished Service Award.
• Grant Goings from Wilson received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Let’s meet the 2025 Public Power Distinguished Service Award recipient, Bill Stockman.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes leaders with 10 or more years of experience who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to public power, brought their organization to a new level of excellence, led by example, and inspired their employees and staff to improve processes, services, and operations.

That’s Bill. He began his more than 45 years of dedicated service to the electric utility industry at Tampa Electric in Florida in 1979. For more than 21 years, he served in many roles there, including lineworker and crew leader.

He moved on to various management positions at utilities in California, Wyoming, and Washington. Then, in 2018, he headed back east and joined ElectriCities when the organization partnered with the City of Lexington to manage its electric operations.

Nick Geis, who is Lexington’s Assistant City Manager, said Bill’s strategic vision and his ability to anticipate industry needs, plan proactively, and implement creative solutions have significantly improved system redundancy, reducing outages and making Lexington more attractive to new businesses.

Always on the lookout for ways to improve and ensure the best service, Bill attends industry events, like the ElectriCities Annual Conference, APPA conferences, NCAMES meetings, and a utility expo that happens every other year. It was at one of those expos that he learned about the value of 44 kV reclosers when it comes to keeping outages isolated and short-lived. He took it upon himself to get reclosers installed on the system throughout Lexington, including getting the equipment expense approved by Council.

Bill added a new 100-to-44 kV substation in Lexington, so now the city has three delivery points instead of two.

In Uptown Lexington, he converted some of the overhead lines to underground. Part of the conversion was tied to a Depot District project, but Bill got approval to take it further to beautify the area. That helped set the stage for new construction.

When it comes to economic development, Carl Rees, Manager of Economic and Community Development at ElectriCities, says Bill just has a knack for bridging the gaps between what companies want and what a public power community needs in such a way that both parties win.

When Siemens Mobility was considering Lexington for its rail manufacturing and servicing facility, Bill designed the electric system infrastructure, including reclosers, to give the company the reliability it required. That new facility will be opening in Lexington soon and will create more than 500 local jobs.

As a team leader, Bill is a coach and mentor, helping develop future leaders’ critical thinking, problem-solving, and customer service skills, ensuring his legacy of excellence continues well beyond his tenure.

One of the beneficiaries of Bill’s mentorship is Cameron Bowman. He was a lineworker when Bill came to Lexington, and while Cameron had aspirations of taking his career to the next level, he said it was Bill’s guidance that enabled him to advance to crew leader, then to supervisor, and to recently be named Lexington’s Electric Systems Manager, filling the position Bill will retire from in September.

Cameron said, “Bill genuinely cares about the employees and trying to get them to their best potential.”

Bill is known for working alongside his crews in tough conditions. Cameron said he’s been right there with them in every snowstorm and hurricane, driving around to help the crews, passing out food or materials, and driving ahead to check out conditions and report back to the supervisors.

Never complaining and always putting safety first, Bill has fostered a culture of camaraderie, accountability, and excellence, always focused on what’s best for the utility and the community it serves. His impact will be felt for many years to come.

He’s done all this, never wanting any credit. But we’re giving him credit.

Bill, congratulations on being this year’s Public Power Distinguished Service Award recipient. Thank you for all you’ve done and for being a shining example of public power and public service.

Learn about Cody Leis, recipient of the 2025 Rising Star Award, and Grant Goings, recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

 

 

Each year at the ElectriCities Annual Conference, we recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to public power.

At the 2025 conference:

• Cody Leis from Statesville received the Rising Star Award.
• Bill Stockman from Lexington received the Distinguished Service Award.
• Grant Goings from Wilson received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Let’s meet the 2025 Public Power Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Grant Goings.

The Public Power Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes sustained long-term outstanding leadership, public power service, innovation, and creativity.

For more than 33 years, Grant has been leading municipalities in North Carolina. He served in Shelby, Elkin, and Bethel, before putting down roots in Wilson in 2005.

Wilson looks a lot different after two decades under Grant’s steady, visionary leadership. We don’t use the word “visionary” lightly.

People who have worked with Grant will attest: He’s a big picture thinker. He has vision when nobody else does, and he can translate that vision and paint the picture for everyone else.

Whether talking to his staff or City Council, Grant encourages everyone to think big—or as he likes to say to “fight above our weight class.”

He was instrumental in deploying Greenlight, Wilson’s municipally owned fiber-optic network—one of the first of its kind in the U.S., delivering high-speed internet access to residents and businesses and bridging the digital divide.

In 2020, Wilson was the first city in the country to replace its fixed-route bus system with an on-demand microtransit service.

Grant’s vision and “think big” mentality really shine when it comes to economic development.

He fully supported the community’s development of the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park. He knew that one key place in the heart of Downtown Wilson could be the catalyst for everything else. He was right.

During Grant’s tenure as Wilson’s City Manager, private investment in Downtown Wilson skyrocketed from under $1 million annually in the mid-2000s to $262 million in the last five years.

Downtown Wilson has a new YMCA and new apartments, and a new baseball stadium is in the works. Grant was instrumental in relocating the Carolina Mudcats minor league baseball team from Zebulon to Wilson, where the team will be playing as the Wilson Warbirds starting next year.

Under Grant’s leadership, Wilson developed a large manufacturing base that provides employment to a lot of eastern North Carolina. And Grant was the driving force behind GigEast, securing the funding to create Wilson’s thriving innovation initiative and coworking space.

Rebecca Agner, Communications and Marketing Director for the City of Wilson, said, “The amount of investment and the energy in Downtown Wilson is undeniable.”

She said leaders from communities around the country visit Wilson to learn about the City’s innovations, large and small. And Grant was the catalyst for all that.

Grant has also been a big supporter of public power. He was on the ElectriCities Board of Directors for six years, including serving as Chairman in 2016, and he served on NCEMPA’s Board of Commissioners from 2011 until he retired earlier this year.

He served a crucial role in the NCEMPA asset sale in 2015 that led to a nearly 20% decrease in Wilson Energy’s wholesale electric rates and helped set up the Power Agency and its members for long-term success.

Wilson’s City Council recently applauded Grant for continuing to implement competitive rate strategy and long-range planning, which has positioned Wilson Energy as a key asset for attracting further economic development in the city.

Along with being a natural leader, Grant is a mentor and educator, serving as a guest lecturer at Appalachian State University and a leader in programs like Lead for North Carolina, which introduces young professionals to careers in local government.

Grant has served on many local boards, including co-founding Wilson Forward and serving as the Board Chair of the United Way of Wilson County for several years.

As yet another testament to his dedication to the Wilson community, although he officially retired from the City in January, he didn’t leave immediately. He stayed a bit to wrap up some special projects and help newly appointed City Manager Rodger Lentz through the transition.

Through vision, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to community, Grant has left an indelible mark on Wilson’s progress and inspired those around him to think big and pursue bold, transformative change.

Grant, thank you for all you’ve done for Wilson and for public power. Congratulations on receiving this year’s Public Power Lifetime Achievement Award.

Learn about Cody Leis, recipient of the 2025 Public Power Rising Star Award, and Bill Stockman, recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Service Award.

Each year at the ElectriCities Annual Conference, we recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to public power.

At the 2025 conference:

• Cody Leis from Statesville received the Rising Star Award.
• Bill Stockman from Lexington received the Distinguished Service Award.
• Grant Goings from Wilson received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Let’s meet the 2025 Public Power Rising Star Award recipient, Cody Leis.

The Rising Star Award recognizes up-and-coming leaders who have less than 10 years of experience and who, in that relatively short time, have made significant and sustained contributions to the electric utility industry and to public power.

Ask pretty much anyone who works for the City of Statesville about the contributions Cody Leis has made, and, whether it’s the city clerk, city manager, assistant city manager, mayor, or people Cody supervises, and you’ll hear a chorus of kudos.

They’ll talk about his exceptional leadership and how knowledgeable he is.

They’ll say the renewed sense of urgency and drive he brought to the electric department has completely transformed its energy.

They’ll tell you how he’s worked to complete projects that have been ongoing for years and how he takes time to listen, guide, and help everyone and to fight for needed changes.

They’ll tell you how truly dedicated Cody is to his employees, to customers, and to making Statesville’s power grid more reliable than ever.

They’ll talk about how Cody has earned the respect of his colleagues, built trust with the community and council, and positioned the utility for long-term success.

They’ll say he’s an awesome guy to work for.

And they haven’t even known him for two years yet.

Cody joined Statesville Public Power in October 2023 as the Assistant Director. He moved to North Carolina from Texas after working with the City of College Station, another public power community, for nearly eight years.

From the moment he joined the organization, he demonstrated strong leadership, a clear vision, and a deep commitment to serving the community. Despite being new to Statesville and to North Carolina, he immediately filled a void with his insight and decision-making ability.

When the Director position became vacant in January 2024, he was tapped to be the Interim Director. By April, he was named Director.

In less than two years, Cody has brought impressive energy and innovation to Statesville Public Power.

He has led the successful standardization of equipment specifications, including transformers, switchgear, insulators, poles, and crossarms. These efforts have improved reliability, reduced complexity, and positioned the department for greater efficiency in the future.

He initiated a new line extension policy that places the financial responsibility for major infrastructure expansions on developers rather than on the City. This policy shift promotes smarter, more sustainable growth and protects City resources.

Understanding the importance of community connection, Cody led the rebranding of Statesville’s electric department to Statesville Public Power to raise awareness about the value of public power and the importance of local ownership and accountability. This initiative has helped educate customers and strengthen trust between the department and the community it serves.

From a technical perspective, Cody has overseen the conversion of four 4kV circuits—a goal that had been on the department’s to-do list for years. He also implemented advanced technology, including Safegrid, which supports predictive fault detection, and he has begun rolling out an outage management system to improve response times and service reliability.

His accomplishments in such a short time speak volumes.

Statesville Assistant City Manager Scott Harrell said, “Despite being younger than two-thirds of the utility’s employees, Cody has established himself as their leader and has embraced the challenge of leading Statesville Public Power into the future.”ay-to-day basis, I’m excited to see where we’ll be in the next five years under his leadership.”

Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh, who presented Cody with the award, said, “He truly represents the next generation of leadership in public power.”

Jason Lee, Statesville’s former Electric Utilities Business Development Specialist, put it well when he said, “There’s so much more Cody offers on a day-to-day basis, I’m excited to see where we’ll be in the next five years under his leadership.”

We are too. Cody, congratulations on being this year’s Public Power Rising Star.

Learn about Bill Stockman, recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Service Award, and Grant Goings, recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

 

 

Congratulations to the 43 ElectriCities member utilities that had no lost workday cases due to accidents or injuries in 2024. Each member is receiving a 2024 ElectriCities Municipal Electric Safety Award recognizing their perfect records and safe operating practices.

The award recipients are:

North Carolina

Albemarle	Kinston
Apex	Laurinburg
Ayden	Maiden
Benson	Morganton
Cherryville	New Bern
Clayton	New River Light & Power
Cornelius	N.C. State University
Dallas	Pinetops
Elizabeth City	Pineville
Farmville	Rocky Mount
Forest City	Scotland Neck
Fountain	Shelby
Fremont	Smithfield
Gastonia	Stantonsburg
Granite Falls	Statesville
Greenville Utilities Commission	Tarboro
High Point	Washington
Hobgood	Waynesville
Hookerton	Western Carolina University
Huntersville	Winterville

South Carolina

Easley

Seneca Light & Water

Virginia

Front Royal

In the coming weeks, each utility will receive their award from their assigned ElectriCities Senior Safety & Training Specialist.

Reporting on-the-job accidents and injuries is required by OSHA, but ElectriCities Senior Safety & Training Specialist Jeff Freeman says it’s not just for record-keeping and awards. The reports provide an opportunity for utility employees to revisit safe work practices, often with the help of the ElectriCities Safety & Training team.

“Having this information helps us track trends and make sure we’re covering the right content in our safety schools,” Jeff said. “If we’re seeing a lot of lineworkers with hand injuries, that’s a signal that we should review the importance of wearing gloves and proper personal protective equipment.”

For more information about the ElectriCities Municipal Electric Safety Awards, contact Jeff Freeman. And visit the ElectriCities website to learn about upcoming ElectriCities safety training classes.

If a hurricane strikes a public power community, rest assured that experienced, local electric crews are prepared to respond and restore power quickly and safely.

Use these electrical safety tips to help you and your family be prepared before, during, and after a storm.

Before:

• Gather emergency electrical supplies, including flashlights, battery-operated radios, and batteries.
• Charge your cell phone and portable chargers.

During:

• Turn off and unplug electrical appliances and equipment, such as televisions and computers.

After:

• Watch for down power lines. Stay away and consider them energized.
• Check for electrical damage inside your home, such as frayed wires, sparks, or a burning smell.
• If your meter box or weatherhead is damaged, don’t turn on your power until an electrician inspects your system and makes necessary repairs.
• Don’t connect your generator directly to your home’s electrical system. It’s dangerous to you, your neighbors, and utility workers.

For more information on hurricane preparedness, go to https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

With these simple steps, you can save money on electricity all summer long.

1. Check your air filters monthly. Change them if needed. Keep in mind that cheaper air filters work just as well as more expensive ones.
   
2. Set your thermostat at 78°F. For every degree above 78, you’ll save 3-5% on your cooling costs.
3. Use a ceiling fan along with your AC. A fan can make you feel up to 4 degrees cooler and costs only pennies to operate. Just remember: Fans cool people, not rooms. Turn off the fan when you leave the room.
4. Don’t let the cold air out or the hot air in. Use caulk and weatherstripping to seal air leaks around doors and windows. If you have a traditional fireplace, be sure to close the damper for the summer season.
5. Clean around your outdoor HVAC unit. For optimal airflow, ensure there’s at least a two-foot clearance around the unit. Also, consider how large your plants will grow, when planting near the unit.
6. Get your AC system checked by a professional annually. An improperly running unit can bump up your monthly bill.

For more ideas about ways to use less energy and reduce your electric bill, visit energy.gov/save.

 

Seven ElectriCities of North Carolina member utilities have earned the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP₃) designation from the American Public Power Association for providing the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service.

The RP₃ designation lasts for three years and recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines:

• Reliability
• Safety
• Workforce development
• System improvement

An 18-member panel of national utility experts reviews applications and awards RP₃ designations in three levels based on a utility’s score in each of the four disciplines. Utilities receive Diamond-level designation for a score of 98-100%, Platinum for 90-97%, and Gold for 80-89%.

Congratulations to these 2025 RP₃ designees:

Diamond Level

• City of New Bern, N.C.
• Fayetteville Public Works Commission (N.C.)

Platinum Level

• City of Concord, N.C.
• City of Lexington, N.C.
• Danville Utilities (Va.)
• Town of Front Royal (Va.)

Gold Level

• Town of Clayton, N.C.

“The RP₃ designation demonstrates that a public power utility follows industry best practices in utility management and operations,” said Andy Fusco, ElectriCities Chief Strategy Officer. “It allows our members to benchmark their electric utility with the highest national standards, and it’s indicative of the value the utility delivers to its community.”

The seven ElectriCities member utilities are among the 52 utilities nationwide that earned the designation in 2025. In North Carolina, 23 public power communities hold RP₃ designations—more than in any other state, and 29 ElectriCities members across the Carolinas and Virginia are RP₃ designees. Designees retain their award level for three years before being required to re-apply for the award.

“Congratulations to all our RP₃-designated members,” Andy said. “Their efforts reflect their commitment to providing value to their employees, customers, and communities, enabling them to deliver on public power’s purpose defined in our strategic plan.”

A full list of the ElectriCities member utilities with RP₃ designation is available on the Awards and Accolades page on the ElectriCities website. To see the national list of designees, visit www.PublicPower.org.