Archives: Press Releases

ELECTRICITIES OF NC RECEIVES EXCELLENCE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARDS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

RALEIGH, N.C. (OCTOBER 11, 2021) — ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., received multiple awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for its work advancing economic development programs and partnerships in public power communities. The honors were presented Oct. 5 at the IEDC Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

ElectriCities was awarded a Silver Rank for its LinkedIn advertising campaigns, a project in IEDC’s Paid Advertising Campaign category. The LinkedIn ads were part of a comprehensive campaign to convey the benefits of locating a business in North Carolina’s public power communities. They ran in 2020, rotating quarterly, and resulted in impressive engagement, qualified leads, and increased brand recognition.

In the Print Brochure category, ElectriCities won a Bronze Rank for its Economic Value Studies. ElectriCities’ Economic Value Studies are reader-friendly reports packed with hard data that shows how a municipally owned utility benefits its community, providing information such as how much revenue the utility generates, how reliable the electric system is, and the financial benefit of that reliability.

ElectriCities was also awarded a Bronze Rank for its Weekly Wire e-newsletter in the Digital Media category. Subscribers to the weekly newsletter include ElectriCities member community staff and stakeholders, as well as national and international site selectors and economic developers. Multiple economic development-themed issues throughout the year promote available grants, programs, and services that help ElectriCities member communities with economic development ventures.

“It’s such a joy to enlighten businesses from around the world about the value of locating in a North Carolina public power community,” said Brenda Daniels, Manager of Economic & Community Development at ElectriCities. “IEDC recognizing our team’s efforts is a testament to our dedication to supporting economic development and providing an essential benefit to ElectriCities’ more than 70 member cities and towns across the state.”

IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs, partnerships, and marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders. Awards in 25 categories honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities. IEDC received over 500 submissions from four countries. Following a nomination process held earlier this year, a diverse panel of economic and community developers from around the world judged the awards.

“The winners of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development awards represent the best of economic development and exemplify the leadership that our profession strives for every day,” said 2021 IEDC Board Chair and Invest Buffalo Niagara President and CEO Tom Kucharski. “We’re honored to recognize the more than 100 communities whose marketing submissions, projects, and partnerships have improved regional quality of life.”

About the International Economic Development Council

The IEDC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 5,000 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth, and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members engage in the full range of economic development experiences. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in various settings, including local, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. Learn more at iedconline.org.

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North Carolina ranks among nation’s top states for public power.

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA [October 8, 2021]—Public power communities own their electric systems. Their local electric service providers deliver safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to power their homes and businesses. North Carolina benefits from being one of the nation’s leaders in public power, with the ninth largest number of public power utilities serving the ninth largest number of customers, according to data from the American Public Power Association. ElectriCities, a not-for-profit organization that provides support and services to public power communities in North Carolina and beyond, is celebrating those communities during Public Power Week, October 3-9, 2021.

“Public power provides our communities enormous value, measurable in local economic benefit and growth opportunities and seen in improved quality of life and peace of mind. Public power isn’t accountable to distant shareholders; it’s a shared asset owned by our neighbors and our communities,” said Roy Jones, CEO of ElectriCities.

Those benefits reach deep. The hallmarks of public power are increased reliability, affordability, and opportunities for local economic development. Unlike investor-owned utilities or electric cooperatives, public power utilities are community-owned, not-for-profit systems that are notable for providing local control, exceptional reliability, and outstanding customer service. The theme of this year’s Public Power Week, “Dedicated to Service / The Power to Deliver” celebrates those advantages.

“Public power in North Carolina has made communities stronger for more than 100 years,” Jones said. “We want to honor the service and commitment of our utility employees who dedicate themselves to keeping our neighbors and families connected. Public Power Week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the power of community.”

North Carolina currently has 72 public power providers, including four of the nation’s 100 largest public power utilities. Fayetteville Public Works Commission ranks as the 37th largest public power utility with more than 81,000 customers. Greenville Utilities Commission (#45), City of High Point (#77), and Wilson Energy (#94) are also among the nation’s largest public power utilities.

Reliability: A Public Power Tradition

Public power communities in North Carolina enjoy 33% fewer outages and 62% less time without power compared to investor-owned utilities in the state.

Reliability is about more than just convenience. When factory downtime equals real dollars lost and jobs are on the line, communities value their power provided by a utility that keeps the power on 99.8% of the time and restores power three times faster than investor-owned utilities or cooperatives.

North Carolina has 27 communities—more than any other state—recognized by the American Public Power Association as Reliable Public Power Providers. This special “RP3” designation certifies that utilities provide outstanding reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement.

Public power has a rich tradition in North Carolina that dates to 1889, when the City of Statesville first began using electric lights instead of gas streetlamps to illuminate the tiny downtown area.

Quick Facts about Public Power

• North Carolina has 72 public power communities that collectively serve nearly 1.3 million people.
• One in seven electricity customers in the U.S. are served by public power.
• North Carolina is home to four of the nation’s 100 largest public power utilities.
• Statesville was North Carolina’s first public power community. It began operating electric lights in 1889.
• Nationally, there are more than 2,000 public power providers that collectively serve 49 million people.
• Ten percent of the electricity generated in the United States comes from public power facilities.

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Local public power leader lays out challenges and priorities to ensure a reliable electric grid in the future.

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA [September 30, 2021]—Roy Jones, CEO of ElectriCities of North Carolina, testified today as part of a national panel of experts convened by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to discuss challenges to the reliability of the nation’s electric grid. Jones, testifying as one of nine experts invited by FERC to the virtual Reliability Technical Conference, spoke on behalf of public power communities nationwide, including the 89 community-owned electric systems in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia that are members of ElectriCities.

Jones addressed challenges facing the nation’s bulk electric grid, focusing on supply chain concerns, the industry’s evolving resource mix and its impact on resource adequacy, and the need for greater coordination between industry and government partners to promote reliability and circulate information regarding threats to the grid.

“Keeping the lights on during a dramatic change in the nation’s resource mix may be the single most important challenge of the mid-21st century for utility managers and state and federal regulators,” Jones said.

The challenge, he said, is attributable to the rapid shift away from centralized generation to non-synchronous resources, including renewables, battery storage, and other technologies. As this shift accelerates, industry and regulators must keep a close eye on resource adequacy and coordinate on flexible ramping and load-following resources, along with energy-assured generation. Jones stressed that while public power utilities continue to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, FERC must work concurrently to monitor and maintain grid reliability.

Jones serves as vice chairman of the member representatives committee of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the not-for-profit entity created in 1968 to reduce risks to the reliability and security of the continental electric grid. Jones also spoke on behalf of the Large Public Power Council, the Transmission Access Policy Study Group, and the American Public Power Association. APPA represents more than 2,000 public power systems that provide more than 15 percent of all retail electric sales and serve more than 49 million people.

Pertaining to supply chain, Jones said FERC must assist industry in pressing for additional government assistance to influence supplier cybersecurity practices.

“Vendors must take on supply chain security as a fundamental responsibility,” he said, urging electric industry and federal governmental partners to bring vendors to the table to find consensus on addressing the issues.

Read Jones’ full prepared testimony here; find more information about the technical conference here.

 

About the Large Public Power Council

LPPC is an association of the 26 largest state-owned and municipal utilities in the nation and represents the larger, asset-owning members of the public power sector. LPPC members are also members of APPA and own approximately 90% of the transmission assets owned by non-federal public power entities.

 

About the Transmission Access Policy Study Group

TAPS is an association of transmission-dependent utilities located in 35 states. It is an effective voice in the fight for open and equal transmission access and for strong protections against the exercise of market power in electric markets. TAPS supports vigorously competitive wholesale electric markets and a robust grid.

 

About the American Public Power Association

APPA is the national service organization representing the interests of not-for-profit, state, municipal and other locally owned electric utilities in the United States. More than 2,000 public power systems provide over 15% of all kilowatt-hours sales to ultimate customers and serve over 49 million people, doing business in every state except Hawaii.

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Authority could mean lower wholesale rates for 19 cities in central and western North Carolina

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA [June 23, 2021]—  On Tuesday, the North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed Senate Bill 323, a bill that would give the 19 cities and towns that comprise N.C. Municipal Power Agency Number 1 (NCMPA1) the authority to invest NCMPA1’s nuclear decommissioning fund through a combined fund managed by North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell. The result could mean a decrease in wholesale electric rates for NCMPA1, which is a co-owner of the Catawba Nuclear Power Station in York County, S.C.

“Today is a great day for the 19 cities and towns that participate in N.C. Municipal Power Agency Number 1,” said Roy Jones, CEO of ElectriCities, the membership organization of municipally owned electric utilities that includes the 19 NCMPA1 municipalities. “I want to thank House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate Leader Phil Berger, along with our bill sponsors, for making this legislation a priority and for their continued support of public power communities.”

As with all nuclear station owners, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires the establishment and maintenance of a decommissioning fund to restore a site once a nuclear plant is closed. Similar to a pension fund, funds must be accumulated through member contributions and investment earnings to meet projected costs. The contributions are ultimately paid for by NCMPA1 member ratepayers.

The bill could lead to lower wholesale electric rates, assuming current assumptions of revenue, cost, and projected and actual market returns hold true. It would allow the power agency to invest the decommissioning fund in the existing Ancillary Governmental Participant Investment Program (AGPIP) managed by the state treasurer. The expanded range of investment options available through AGPIP would provide NCMPA1 the opportunity to earn higher returns in the fund.

“We appreciate the support and guidance of Treasurer Folwell during this process,” Jones said. “Mr. Folwell has long been a friend to public power communities in North Carolina, and we thank him for his continued support.”

The 19 member cities of NCMPA1 are Albemarle, Bostic, Cherryville, Cornelius, Drexel, Gastonia, Granite Falls, High Point, Huntersville, Landis, Lexington, Lincolnton, Maiden, Monroe, Morganton, Newton, Pineville, Shelby, and Statesville.

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ElectriCities members chosen for EV projects as part of competitive program

RALEIGH, N.C. (March 9, 2021) — The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) awarded its first round of funding for Level 2 charging stations totaling $422,000 as part of the North Carolina Volkswagen Mitigation Settlement Program. More than a quarter of the funding announced in the recent round was awarded in public power communities in the state.

Multiple North Carolina Public Power communities received grants through the settlement funding, totaling $120,000. The cities of Albemarle and High Point, and the Town of Apex applied and were granted funding through the latest round. The investment in these communities totals $64,000 to be used toward 14 electric vehicle charging ports.

Three additional grants were awarded in public power communities that were applied for by either private industry or state government. These businesses and agencies, located in Forest City, Selma, and Smithfield, were awarded a total of $56,000 for an additional 14 electric vehicle charging ports in those areas.

“ElectriCities public power members have a strong track record of paving the way for electric vehicle technology and other sustainable energy options in their local communities,” said Phil Bisesi, supervisor of residential energy services for ElectriCities. “With more than 120 electric vehicle charging stations in public power communities across the state, public power is leading the way and proud to be doing its part on the journey to a clean, emissions-free future. Clean energy is vital to the future of our communities, industry, and planet.”

The 19 ElectriCities member communities that comprise the North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 (NCMPA1) enjoy energy that is at least 95% carbon-free, with many communities enjoying 100% net-carbon-free energy. In the eastern part of the state, ElectriCities’ 32 member communities that make up the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA) receive their power from Duke Energy Progress, which has reduced carbon emissions by more than 40 percent since 2005.

ElectriCities is encouraging its members to take a long-term look at electric vehicles by offering EV Strategic Plan matching grants to Power Agency members. These plans have already been developed for Apex, Shelby, and Wake Forest, and provide these communities with a road map on how to manage these new electric loads and promote the benefits of electric vehicles.

The Level 2 EV Infrastructure Grant Program has proven competitive across the state, with $1.6 million in requests being submitted for $1.1 million in available funding through this stage of the program. DEQ anticipates additional Level 2 charging station funds will become available in Phase 2 of the Volkswagen Mitigation Settlement Program.

In July, the state passed a bill to appropriate $30.6 million from the Volkswagen Litigation Environmental Mitigation Fund to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for – among other initiatives – diesel bus and vehicle replacements or upgrades and zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure, including DC fast charging stations. Five ElectriCities member cities – Kinston, Lexington, Morganton, New Bern, and Wilson – were awarded funding in that initial round to install fast charging stations.

The full list of projects receiving funding under the DEQ’s latest round of funding announcements can be found here. More information on the North Carolina Volkswagen Mitigation Settlement Program can be found here.

North Carolina receives “Top State” award

RALEIGH, N.C. (FEBRUARY 22, 2021) — ElectriCities of North Carolina has once again been named a “Top Utility” by Business Facilities Magazine. The honor, awarded by the leading economic development and site selection magazine, highlights power players in the utility space that are well-positioned to take on the challenges and lead in the year ahead. ElectriCities was recognized for its “Top Utility” honor in the January/February 2021 issue of Business Facilities Magazine, available online here.

“Promoting economic development in all of our public power communities is a top priority for ElectriCities 365 days a year,” said Brenda Daniels, Economic Development Manager at ElectriCities. “We are uniquely positioned to support our public power communities in their economic development efforts, with each project highlighting to the local community the true value of public power.”

ElectriCities is actively involved in helping public power communities secure economic development projects. Throughout 2020 – a challenging year at best – North Carolina public power communities added more than 2,200 new jobs and attracted more than $807 million in new investments.

ElectriCities is one of just 12 utilities chosen from across the country as a “Top Utility” by the publication.

“Recognitions like this help shine a light on the incredible projects our public power communities are accomplishing and the value they are bringing to the residents that live in those public power communities,” Daniels said. “Now more than ever those projects helping communities attract and retain businesses and jobs are essential.”

ElectriCities has been recognized as a Top Utility each year since 2017.

A bright spot in a challenging year, North Carolina was also named 2020’s State of the Year by Business Facilities Magazine, the first time North Carolina has received the magazine’s top honor.

North Carolina continues to see impressive economic development despite the pandemic and associated challenges. North Carolina was also ranked among the top ten states in Business Facilities’ 2020 State Rankings Report in categories including Best Business Climate, Workforce Development, Manufacturing Employment, Foreign Direct Investment, Biotechnology, Installed Solar Power, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and Fastest-Growing States (Population).

 

About Business Facilities Magazine

Business Facilities highlights area economic development and site selection news from around the world. Economic development creates opportunities to grow state, local and metro areas, which are essential for economic growth, improved quality of life and community development.

Business Facilities is a leading full-service media brand specializing in the site selection marketplace. Through a bi-monthly magazine, e-mail newsletters, a news portal, and its LiveXchange event, Business Facilities has created a dynamic community for C-level executives and economic development organizations.

Sixteen Public Power Communities Recognized Across North Carolina

RALEIGH, NC (FEB. 10, 2021) — ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc. has presented sixteen North Carolina communities with Public Power Awards of Excellence. The awards – which align with ElectriCities’ five strategic priorities – recognize exceptional achievement in communicating the value of public power, grid modernization, workforce development, wholesale power cost, and continuous improvement.

“It’s exciting to see the many achievements in North Carolina public power communities each year,” said ElectriCities CEO Roy Jones. “I am always impressed by the ingenuity and true commitment of public power communities, particularly throughout 2020 when cities and towns were faced with challenges no one could have anticipated. We are proud of these public power communities and are grateful for their dedication.”

ElectriCities’ annual awards celebrate praiseworthy performance among public power communities across the state and shine a light on work being done that enhances the safe, reliable, and affordable energy provided to North Carolina businesses and homes served by public power.

The 2020 Public Power Awards of Excellence include:

The VALUE OF PUBLIC POWER AWARD highlights communities that communicate the value of electric system ownership to key stakeholders. This year’s winners are Albemarle, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, Gastonia, Granite Falls, Greenville Utilities Commission, Kinston, Maiden, Morganton, New Bern, New River Light and Power, Rocky Mount, Statesville, Tarboro, and Wilson.

The GRID MODERNIZATION AWARD focuses on promoting investment in public power communities’ electric distribution systems and in technology to ensure safety and reliability, as well as exceeding customer expectations. This year’s winners are Albemarle, Apex, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, Greenville Utilities Commission, Kinston, New River Light and Power, Statesville, Tarboro, and Wilson.

The WORKFORCE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AWARD honors communities that promote a workforce plan to attract, develop and retain the necessary human talent to provide safe, reliable power and lead public power forward. This year’s winners are Albemarle, Apex, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, Gastonia, Granite Falls, Greenville Utilities Commission, Kinston, Morganton, New River Light and Power, Rocky Mount, Smithfield, Statesville, and Wilson.

The WHOLESALE POWER COST AWARD recognizes communities that provide competitive and stable wholesale electric rates that meet the power supply need of Power Agency Members. This year’s winners are Albemarle, Gastonia, Granite Falls, Greenville Utilities Commission, Kinston, Morganton, New River Light and Power, Rocky Mount, Smithfield, Statesville, and Wilson.

The CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AWARD recognizes cities and towns that constantly review and enhance all aspects of public power while focusing on cost reduction and increased efficiencies in current and future operations. This year’s winners are Fayetteville Public Works Commission, Greenville Utilities Commission, Kinston, New River Light and Power, Tarboro, and Wilson.

 

Contact

Elizabeth Kadick
Senior Public Affairs Specialist
919.760.6285
ekadick@electricities.org

 

RALEIGH, N.C. — Participants in the North Carolina Transmission Planning Collaborative (NCTPC), made up of representatives from the state’s electric utilities, have identified 17 major projects that will improve North Carolina’s electric transmission infrastructure as part of the 2020-2030 Collaborative Transmission Plan (“2020 plan”). The projects represent more than $804 million in investments during the next decade.

The major transmission projects identified in the 2020 plan are expected to be implemented during the next 10 years by the transmission owners to preserve system reliability and resiliency, support the growth of cleaner energy options, and improve economic electricity transfers across the transmission network. Major projects are defined as those requiring transmission investments of more than $10 million.

The 2020 plan report can be viewed on the NCTPC website under the Reference Documents section at nctpc.org/nctpc/home.jsp.

The 2020 plan includes one new Duke Energy Carolinas project and five new Duke Energy Progress projects. Appendices B and C in the 2020 report contain the specific details on each of the 17 major reliability projects identified in the plan.

In-service dates and cost estimates for some 2020 projects that are planned or underway have been revised from the previous plan report.

The NCTPC was formed in 2005 to develop a shared plan for electric transmission system enhancements in the state. Participants include Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress, ElectriCities of North Carolina, which serves public power communities across the state, and the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC), which serves as the power supplier for most of the state’s electric cooperatives.

Since its inception in 2005, transmission projects totaling more than $1.98 billion have been identified in the NCTPC plans. More than $1.10 billion in projects have been placed in service through the end of 2020, $529 million are still in the planning stage and another $350 million were deferred until after 2030 or cancelled as a result of changing transmission system requirements. The plan is updated annually.

The NCTPC was established to provide participants and other stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the electric transmission planning process for North Carolina and develop a single coordinated transmission plan that includes reliability and local economic study transmission planning considerations. The group’s priority is to appropriately balance costs, benefits and risks associated with the use of transmission and generation resources.

Another goal of the NCTPC is to study the strength of North Carolina’s transmission infrastructure. The scope of the 2020 NCTPC study included a base reliability analysis for transmission needs to meet load growth between 2020 and 2030. For a variety of reasons, such as load growth, generation retirements, or power purchase agreements expiring, some load-serving entities (LSE) may wish to evaluate other resource supply options to meet future load demand. These resource supply options can be either in the form of transactions or some hypothetical generators added to meet resource adequacy requirements for this study. In 2020, the NCTPC also examined a Local Economic High Load Study scenario and a Public Policy Offshore Wind Study scenario.

The Local Economic High Load Study evaluated the impact of assumed high load growth in the Union and Cabarrus County areas of North Carolina. This study scenario analyzed the effect of a high load growth case (5-6% growth) on the transmission system in the 2025 and 2030 summer models. There are two 100-kV line issues identified by this study. Duke Energy is discussing alternative solutions with affected stakeholders that may resolve the issues, and have the potential to be included in a future base reliability plan depending on actual system load growth.

The Public Policy Offshore Wind Study evaluated the potential impact of offshore wind development in the state and the impact on the transmission system. It evaluated the following two scenarios:

• Scenario 1. Evaluate the potential for 2,400 MW of offshore wind generation injecting into Dominion’s Landstown 230kV area and wheeled into Duke Energy Carolinas/Duke Energy Progress
• Scenario 2.  Determine three least-cost injection points somewhere along the North Carolina coast and determine the transmission cost breakpoints for varying amounts of offshore wind generation injection at those sites up to 5,000 MW.

The analysis of the offshore wind study scenarios is still being performed. The study results are expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2021 and will be published in a separate report.

“Through ongoing collaboration between Duke Energy, NCEMC, and ElectriCities, the North Carolina Transmission Planning Collaborative (NCTPC) and its stakeholders have produced a comprehensive 10-year transmission plan that will support the reliable and economic delivery of electric power across the Carolinas,” said Mark Byrd, Duke Energy representative and chair of the NCTPC OSC. “The NCTPC also continues to provide a valuable forum for regulators and other stakeholders to remain informed on a variety of transmission-related topics.”

The NCTPC process includes active participation of other market participants and stakeholders through a Transmission Advisory Group (TAG), which is open to all interested parties. Stakeholders interested in joining the TAG or receiving information about the NCTPC process can sign up at nctpc.org/nctpc/home.jsp.

During the NCTPC process, an administrative consultant serves as a facilitator who chairs the TAG and solicits input from other stakeholders through the open TAG meetings. Richard Wodyka, the current NCTPC consultant, can be reached at rich.wodyka@gmail.com. If you have any comments or questions on the NCTPC process or the 2020-2030 Collaborative Transmission Plan Study Report, contact Mark Byrd at mark.byrd@duke-energy.com or 919-546-7937.

 

For media inquiries, contact the corporate media relations representatives at each entity:

ElectriCities of North Carolina (municipals)

• Elizabeth Kadick: 919.760.6285 | ekadick@electricities.org

Duke Energy

• Jeff Brooks: 919.546.4710 | Brooks@duke-energy.com

North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (electric co-ops)

• Lisa Crawley: 919.645.3427 | Crawley@ncemcs.com

 

 

RALEIGH, N.C. (JAN. 19, 2021).  ElectriCities of North Carolina issued a request for proposals Thursday for utility-scale battery storage systems of up to 10 megawatts to help manage peak load for the 32 cities and towns in eastern North Carolina who are members of the N.C. Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA). By storing the energy when electric demand is low and discharging when demand is high, the batteries could enable the cities to lower costs for customers while providing environmental benefits for all North Carolinians.

“We’re investing in cutting-edge battery technology to provide a host of benefits for electric customers in eastern North Carolina,” said ElectriCities CEO Roy Jones. “We are excited about the opportunity to bring increased reliability and security to the grid while reducing cost and better integrating renewable energy sources.”

While many NCEMPA member cities have employed customer incentive programs and technology to reduce load during times of peak demand, as proposed this project would be the first large-scale battery-storage project for the power agency. As more renewable resources are added to the grid, batteries help by storing energy produced when the sun shines or the wind blows and releasing it when the demand would otherwise be served by carbon-emitting sources such as coal.

All 32 cities would benefit proportionally from the batteries, regardless of where the batteries are physically located in eastern North Carolina.

The battery storage project would continue ElectriCities’ commitment to cleaner energy sources. The eastern power agency has reduced carbon emissions by more than 20 percent since 2005 while reducing wholesale power costs during that period by 10%. In the piedmont and western part of the state, the North Carolina Municipal Power Agency #1 (NCMPA1) provides its residents with power that is more than 95% carbon-free.

 

About ElectriCities of North Carolina

ElectriCities is the energy behind public power. For more than 50 years, ElectriCities has helped North Carolina public power communities provide safe, reliable, and affordable power to their customers. ElectriCities serves more than 1.2 million people in North Carolina public power communities, including 32 members of the N.C. Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA) and 19 members of N.C. Municipal Power Agency #1 (NCMPA1).

The 32 members of NCEMPA are Apex, Ayden, Belhaven, Benson, Clayton, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Farmville, Fremont, Greenville Utilities Commission, Hamilton, Hertford, Hobgood, Hookerton, Kinston, La Grange, Laurinburg, Louisburg, Lumberton, New Bern, Pikeville, Red Springs, Robersonville, Rocky Mount, Scotland Neck, Selma, Smithfield, Southport, Tarboro, Wake Forest, Washington, and Wilson.

RALEIGH, N.C. (DECEMBER 10, 2020) — ElectriCities of North Carolina announced today that it has named Jay Morrison Chief Legal Officer. Morrison has more than 27 years’ experience practicing law, with the last 22 years at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Most recently, Morrison served as vice president of regulatory issues for the association.

“Jay joins the ElectriCities team with an abundance of regulatory, energy, and utilities expertise,” said Roy L. Jones, ElectriCities Chief Executive Officer. “His decades of experience will be a benefit to our members and will help lead North Carolina public power into the future. We look forward to officially welcoming Jay to ElectriCities in the new year.”

Morrison will be responsible for all legal matters, including advising the organization’s internal staff, ElectriCities’ Board of Directors, and the Power Agencies’ Board of Commissioners on legal, regulatory, and legislative matters. Morrison will also provide counsel on corporate legal strategy and provide oversight and legal perspective on all compliance matters.

“I am excited to join the remarkable team at ElectriCities and look forward to contributing to their great work on behalf of public power communities and their citizens,” said Morrison.

Morrison earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School. He also holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, summa cum laude, from UCLA.

For additional information, contact: 
Elizabeth Kadick, Senior Public Affairs Specialist
919.760.6285
ekadick@electricities.org