43 ElectriCities Members Recognized for Excellent Safety Records in 2024

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.

4 NC Public Power Communities Receive Grants for Downtown Development

Residents in four North Carolina communities will soon have more reasons and ways to enjoy their downtown areas. The public power cities of High Point, Lumberton, Morganton, and Washington received $10,000 each from ElectriCities’ Downtown Revitalization Grant program.

The program is designed to help North Carolina public power communities spur downtown economic development and achieve their downtown revitalization goals.

High Point’s Local Business Retention Program

The City of High Point will put its funds toward a community-wide business retention initiative, “Point to Local: Invest Where You Live.”

The initiative is designed to address the unique challenges Downtown High Point’s small businesses face because of the biannual High Point Furniture Market. Those challenges include inconsistent foot traffic and limited availability of downtown rental spaces, since large corporations lease many available spaces to use for temporary furniture showrooms, said Rebekah McGee, President and CEO of Forward High Point.

Point to Local: Invest Where You Live” enables consumers to purchase a digital gift card that’s redeemable exclusively at participating downtown merchants, ensuring that every dollar spent through the program directly benefits small, locally owned establishments.

“By encouraging local spending, this initiative supports small businesses that have committed to staying open every day—despite inconsistent foot traffic,” Rebekah said. “The program directly supports the City of High Point’s overall economic development strategy by reinforcing the vitality of small businesses, fostering year-round economic activity downtown, and reducing the community’s overreliance on the furniture market.”

Downtown Lumberton’s Farmers Market Upgrade

The City of Lumberton will put its grant proceeds toward essential facility upgrades at the Robeson County Farmers Market in Downtown Lumberton.

“As a vital community hub, the farmers market offers direct access to fresh, local produce while supporting small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs,” said Sarah Ward, Downtown Coordinator for the City of Lumberton.

The project aims to provide a permanent, central market structure that will serve as both an economic hub and a community space.

“Enhancing this space will improve vendor capacity, customer experience, and year-round functionality—ultimately attracting more foot traffic, stimulating nearby businesses, and fostering local pride,” Sarah said. “This investment will not only strengthen the local food economy but also serve as a catalyst for continued momentum in downtown Lumberton’s transformation into a thriving, inclusive destination.”

Morganton’s Downtown Sound System Project

The City of Morganton will put its ElectriCities grant toward restoring its downtown music system. The original system installed in 1998 failed in 2020, and the replacement wireless system installed in 2022 has remained inoperable.

“For years, the ambient music was a defining characteristic of Downtown Morganton, frequently praised by tourists,” said Sharon Jablonski, Director of Cultural and Creative Development for the City of Morganton. “The prolonged silence has been a noticeable loss, impacting the overall experience for shoppers, diners, and those simply enjoying the downtown environment.”

Working with a team at the City of Lenoir that has had issues with the same music system, the Morganton team has found a solution. Using the grant, they’ll be able to completely rework and activate all 16 of their sound units.

“Restoring our downtown music system is a crucial step in enhancing the vibrancy and appeal of Downtown Morganton,” Sharon said. “This grant funding enables us to fully implement a proven solution, revitalizing a cherished amenity and contributing significantly to the ongoing downtown revitalization efforts.”

Downtown Washington’s Alleyway Improvements Project

The City of Washington will use its funding to install lighting and security cameras in two of its downtown alleyways.

“The alleyways were not part of the City’s recently completed streetscape project, but completing the streetscape highlighted the need for better lighting and safety in other areas of Downtown Washington, said John Jesso, Interim Executive Director of the Washington Harbor District Alliance. “With the increased foot traffic and retail activities due to our streetscape project, we’re expecting improvements to the alleyways to facilitate even more pedestrian traffic and contribute to both community and economic redevelopment.”

“These grant-winning projects show that there are many different ways we can improve our downtowns and support development,” said Carl Rees, ElectriCities Manager of Economic and Community Development. “Helping fund them injects needed energy into our members’ downtown areas, sparking growth and ultimately improving the quality of life in these public power communities.”

About ElectriCities’ Downtown Revitalization Grants

ElectriCities awards the competitive Downtown Revitalization Grants twice a year—each spring and fall—to its members in the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA) and in North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 (NCMPA1). Grant proceeds must be used for projects that advance the community’s downtown revitalization goals and are approved by the city or town manager or chief executive. The next application cycle for ElectriCities Downtown Revitalization Grants opens in the fall of 2025.

Reporting Outages Using the ElectriCities Outage Map

Communicating with customers when you experience outages is critical to maintaining customer satisfaction. But when it comes to major weather events, it’s also important to keep ElectriCities informed on how your community has been impacted. That’s key to helping the ElectriCities Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) operate smoothly, quickly coordinating mutual aid for the communities that need it.

Incorporating your community’s outages on the ElectriCities Outage Map is a simple process.

The map populates using information from members who either:

Submit your outages via a link you receive from ElectriCities

OR

Have your outage map integrated to the ElectriCities map.

When a major event is forecast, if your outage map isn’t integrated with the ElectriCities map, our EAP team will request outages from you at pre-announced times—usually in the morning and afternoon. Those times are based on the schedule determined by North Carolina’s State Emergency Response Team, or SERT.

When it’s time to report outages, you’ll receive a text and email from the EAP team. The notification provides a link to a form you can use to submit your outages.

You will:

  1. Click on the link.
  2. Confirm your utility from the dropdown.
  3. Enter number of outages.
  4. Click “Submit.”

“It’s crucial to provide precise outage information, even if that number is zero,” emphasizes Greg Flinn, Senior Utility Systems Project Engineer at ElectriCities. “Ensuring our outage figures align with your customer communications is paramount. Various bodies, including SERT, rely on our statewide outage map. Accurate data helps SERT and the ElectriCities EAP identify the most affected areas and quickly get help where it’s needed.”

If your outage map is linked with the ElectriCities outage map, this process occurs automatically, eliminating the need for manual steps. If you have questions about outage reporting or integration with ElectriCities’ map, please reach out to Greg Flinn.

Electrical Safety Tips for Before, During, and After a Storm

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.

6 Ways to Save Money on Electricity this Summer

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.
    Woman replacing dirty air conditioning filter at home.
  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.

 

15 ElectriCities Members Earn National Safety Award

The American Public Power Association (APPA) presented Safety Awards of Excellence to 15 ElectriCities of North Carolina member utilities for safe operating practices in 2024.

The annual award recognizes a utility’s comprehensive approach to safety, including its incident rate and the state of its safety program and culture. APPA awards utilities in three levels based on application score: Diamond (90 points or more), Platinum (80-89 points), and Gold (70-79 points).

Congratulations to these 2024 Safety Awards of Excellence recipients:

Group B (systems with 15,000 to 29,999 worker-hours of exposure)

Diamond Level

  • City of Shelby, N.C.

Group C (systems with 30,000 to 59,999 worker-hours of exposure)

Diamond Level

  • Laurens Commission of Public Works (S.C.)
  • Lexington Utilities (N.C.)
  • Town of Front Royal (Va.)
  • Wake Forest Power (N.C.)

Platinum Level

  • New River Light & Power (N.C.)

Group D (systems with 60,000 to 109,999 worker-hours of exposure)

Diamond Level

  • City of Concord, N.C.
  • City of Gastonia, N.C.
  • City of Rocky Mount, N.C.
  • Statesville Public Power (N.C.)

Group E (systems with 110,000 to 249,999 worker-hours of exposure)

Diamond Level

  • City of New Bern, N.C.
  • City of Rock Hill, S.C.
  • Wilson Energy (N.C.)

Group F (systems with 250,000 to 999,999 worker-hours of exposure)

Diamond Level

  • Fayetteville Public Works Commission (N.C.)
  • Greenville Utilities Commission (N.C.)

“Safety is the top priority for ElectriCities and for our members, and I commend these public power providers for their dedication and commitment to it,” said Craig Batchelor, ElectriCities Manager of Safety and Training. “It’s not only about wearing the right gear every day. It’s about building a culture of safety across the whole organization and working hard to maintain it.”

To determine award winners, APPA first categorized entrants according to their number of worker-hours. APPA scored each entrant based on lagging indicators—the occurrence and frequency of past events, leading indicators—proactive, preventative, and predictive measures, and the overall state of their safety programs and culture during 2024.

APPA revised the Safety Awards of Excellence program for 2024 based on feedback from its newly established Safety Committee, which includes Craig as a member. Program revisions aimed to:

  • Ensure member input in the process of developing the safety awards application.
  • Develop an awards application that accurately reflects the effectiveness of a utility’s safety program.
  • Ensure that the awards application will allow smaller utilities with fewer resources to qualify for an award.

APPA members can find more information on the application and scoring in APPA’s Safety Awards of Excellence Application Guidebook for 2024.

“Harnessing electricity to keep our communities powered is vital work that can be dangerous, even deadly, if the proper attention isn’t paid to tried-and-true safety practices,” said Jon Beasley, Chair of APPA’s Safety Committee and Vice President of Electric Cities of Georgia. “This award honors utilities that hold fast to these practices and—in doing so—put the safety of their personnel and their customers above all else.”

See the national list of 2024 Safety Awards of Excellence honorees at www.PublicPower.org.

Visit the Awards and Accolades page on the ElectriCities website for a list of awards ElectriCities member utilities have won over the past few years.

 

7 ElectriCities Members Earn RP3 Designation

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.

APPA Recognizes 20 ElectriCities Members for Exceptional Reliability in 2024

Congratulations to the 20 ElectriCities member utilities that received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2024:

  • Bamberg Board of Public Works (S.C.)
  • City of Albemarle, N.C.
  • City of Elizabeth City, N.C.
  • City of Kinston, N.C.
  • City of Lumberton, N.C.
  • City of Monroe, N.C.
  • City of New Bern, N.C.
  • City of Newberry, S.C.
  • City of Rocky Mount, N.C.
  • Greenville Utilities Commission (N.C.)
  • Greenwood Commissioners of Public Works (S.C.)
  • Martinsville Electric Department (Va.)
  • New River Light & Power (N.C.)
  • Town of Apex, N.C.
  • Town of Clayton, N.C.
  • Town of Cornelius, N.C.
  • Town of Front Royal, Va.
  • Town of Granite Falls, N.C.
  • Town of Tarboro, N.C.
  • Town of Wake Forest, N.C.

Each earned a Certificate of Excellence in Reliability from the American Public Power Association (APPA).

“Our member utilities work tirelessly to keep the lights on in their communities through any storm, challenge, or natural disaster,” said Sherri Callery, Manager of Grid Innovation at ElectriCities. “We congratulate these utilities and commend them for their enduring dedication to maintaining safe and reliable electric service.”

Honorees have been tracking their power outage and restoration data through APPA’s eReliability Tracker. Using the web-based subscription service—a benefit for most ElectriCities members—utilities can collect, categorize, and summarize outage and restoration data and run reports throughout the year.

Once a year, APPA’s Reliability Team compares this data to national statistics that the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) tracks for all types of electric utilities. APPA awards Certificates of Excellence in Reliability to those utilities that have a System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) in the top 25% of utilities nationally.

“Year after year, data consistently demonstrate public power utilities provide highly reliable service,” said APPA Director of Research and Development Paul Zummo. “The utilities recognized here are truly elite when it comes to keeping the lights on. Their communities should be proud of the hard work and dedication of their local power providers as they earn this truly deserved recognition.”

Public power customers are without power for less than half the amount of time customers of other power providers are, according to national averages reported to the EIA. North Carolina’s public power customers fare even better, with outages lasting only a third as long as customers of other providers.

“Monitoring outage data provides both strategic and practical insights,” Sherri said. “It enables you to evaluate grid performance, identify opportunities for enhancement, and highlight exceptional reliability as a primary competitive advantage public power utilities provide.”

If you’re an ElectriCities member interested in tracking your utility’s reliability, please contact Sherri Callery.

See the national list of 2024 Certificate of Excellence in Reliability recipients at www.PublicPower.org. For a list of awards ElectriCities member utilities have won, visit the Awards and Accolades page on the ElectriCities website.

Welcome 2025 ElectriCities Board Members

Newly elected and re-elected ElectriCities board members (left to right) Rick Howell, Tasha Logan Ford, and Kip Padgett with North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Tamara Barringer after she swore them in on Feb. 28, 2025. Re-elected member Robbie Swinson was sworn in virtually.

The newly elected and re-elected members of the ElectriCities Board of Directors have officially been sworn into office. Please join us in welcoming everyone!

New to the board is:

  • Tasha Logan Ford (High Point)

Re-elected to the board are:

  • Rick Howell (Shelby)
  • Kipling D. “Kip” Padgett (Wake Forest)
  • Robert “Robbie” Swinson, IV (Kinston)

The 2025 officers of the ElectriCities board are:

  • Chairman: Costi Kutteh (Statesville)
  • Vice Chairman: Charles D. Nichols, III (Laurinburg)
  • Secretary: Rick Howell (Shelby)

Remaining board members are:

  • Mayor Eddie Braxton (Scotland Neck)
  • Whitney Brooks (Lexington)
  • Anthony C. Cannon (Greenville Utilities Commission)
  • Jim Gallagher (Gastonia)
  • James M. Johnson (Wilson)
  • Troy Lewis (Tarboro)
  • Lloyd Payne (Concord)
  • Jonathan Rynne (Fayetteville Public Works Commission)
  • Thurman Ross, Jr. (Cornelius)
  • John M. Stiver (Newton)

ElectriCities’ 16-member Board of Directors advises and directs the activities and policies for North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number One, North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency, and ElectriCities of North Carolina. Board members serve three-year terms.

“Congratulations to our newly elected and re-elected members and to this year’s officers,” said ElectriCities CEO Roy Jones. “A sincere thank you to outgoing chairman, Troy Lewis, for his dedicated service and leadership this past year.”

“Many thanks also to North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Tamara Barringer for swearing in the newly elected and re-elected board members,” Roy said. “I’m excited to work with this esteemed group to help secure a bright future for public power in our region.”

More Than 20 ElectriCities Members Receive Mutual Aid Commendations

In the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton back in fall 2024, public power lineworkers from across the ElectriCities membership jumped into action to help restore power in the communities affected.

The American Public Power Association has recognized those efforts by issuing Mutual Aid Commendations to the responding utilities.

These members received commendations for their help restoring power after Hurricane Helene:

  • Albemarle
  • Apex
  • Clayton
  • Concord
  • Fayetteville PWC
  • Gastonia
  • Greenville Utilities Commission
  • High Point
  • Kinston
  • Lexington
  • Lumberton
  • Monroe
  • New Bern
  • Newton
  • Rocky Mount
  • Statesville
  • Tarboro
  • Wake Forest
  • Washington
  • Wilson

These members received commendations for their help restoring power after Hurricane Milton:

  • Clayton
  • Edenton
  • Fayetteville PWC
  • High Point
  • Rocky Mount
  • Smithfield
  • Wake Forest
  • Washington
  • Windsor

In APPA’s article about the mutual aid response after the two storms, Tom Kent, President and CEO of Nebraska Public Power District and a public power representative on the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council, said, “With Hurricanes Helene and Milton, public power responded, and they responded quickly. Once again, they came from far and wide, and they made it happen. I can’t overstate how impressive it is to see the mutual aid system in action.”

We agree. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who makes it all happen.