At the 2026 ElectriCities Annual Conference, we recognized six individuals with Public Power Awards for their outstanding contributions to public power.
Wake Forest’s former mayor Vivian Jones received a Lifetime Achievement Award.
This high honor recognizes sustained long-term outstanding leadership, public power service, innovation, and creativity.
Vivian Jones served Wake Forest for more than two decades as mayor, following two years as a commissioner. She led with vision, conviction, and an unwavering commitment to public service, leaving both her community and North Carolina’s public power network stronger than she found them.
Mayor Jones’ love for Wake Forest is a recurring theme in every conversation about her.
She believed Wake Forest deserved to be recognized, heard, and respected. She spent her career making that happen, transforming Wake Forest from a town that struggled to be heard into a community with a strong voice and a seat at the table.
If there was a meeting about something that could impact Wake Forest, she made sure she was at that meeting, whether she was invited or not.
She has a remarkable ability to see opportunities before others do. She advocated for projects and investments that helped shape the Wake Forest that residents know today.
She helped champion the town’s first performing arts center. She pushed to bring regional bus service to Wake Forest, expanding connections and opportunities for residents.
While she never lost sight of her hometown, she also understood the importance of serving a larger public power mission.
She served on the ElectriCities Board of Directors from 2014 to 2019, including terms as Secretary, Vice Chair, and Chair, and provided leadership on numerous committees and boards.
She served as Chair and Vice Chair of the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA) Board of Commissioners and helped guide the larger public power community through significant milestones, including the NCEMPA asset sale.
She was Chair of the ElectriCities Board and mayor when Wake Forest hosted APPA’s National Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo in 2018. Thanks to the Town’s and ElectriCities’ efforts, it became the largest rodeo in the event’s history.
Mayor Jones is passionate. She has strong opinions and never leaves anyone wondering where she stands. But equally important, she listens. She’s always willing to hear another perspective and consider new information. She’s one of those rare leaders who could speak her mind firmly while remaining open to changing her position if the facts supported it.
Fun fact: Before she was mayor, she wasn’t a fan of public power. Like some, she wondered what Wake Forest was doing in the power business. But she listened and learned the value of it.
After the NCEMPA asset sale, when wholesale power costs declined, Wake Forest had an opportunity to lower electric rates. Mayor Jones believed strongly that the savings should be passed directly to customers, and she advocated forcefully for that outcome. But a rate study showed a smaller reduction was the responsible path forward.
The conversation was spirited, but she listened carefully to the analysis behind the town’s rate study. In the end, even though the final rate reduction was smaller than she had hoped, she supported the decision and stood behind her team.
That’s the kind of leader she was: someone who never hesitated to fight for her community, but who also respected facts, expertise, and thoughtful decision-making. Whether serving Wake Forest, ElectriCities, or the broader public power community, she consistently answered the call to lead.
One of the most telling reflections on Mayor Jones’ impact comes from a community award created to recognize people who demonstrate deep commitment to harmony, service, and community betterment. When the Wake Forest Rotary Club established that award, Mayor Jones was selected as its first recipient.
Today, the award bears her name: The Vivian A. Jones Peace Prize.
That’s a fitting symbol of her legacy: a leader whose example became the standard by which others are measured.
Mayor Jones leaves a legacy of vision, service, and leadership. She helped shape the future of Wake Forest, strengthened North Carolina’s public power network, and demonstrated that the best leaders are those who are willing to speak up, listen carefully, and always put their communities first.
Mayor Jones, congratulations on receiving a 2026 Public Power Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you for your years of dedicated service and for all you’ve done for public power.
Meet the additional 2026 Public Power Award recipients:
- Rising Star Award: Shawn Young from Wilson
- Many Hats Award (for communities with 5,000 or fewer meter customers): Anna Hughey from Maiden
- Many Hats Award (for communities with more than 5,000 meter customers): Sandy Driggers from High Point
- Distinguished Service Award: Rob Miller from Monroe
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Randy McCaslin from High Point