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RALEIGH, N.C. — Participants in the North Carolina Transmission Planning Collaborative (NCTPC), made up of representatives from the state’s electric utilities, have identified 19 major projects that will maintain and improve the electric transmission network as part of the 2018-2028 Collaborative Transmission Plan (“2018 plan”) for North Carolina. The projects represent more than $657 million in investments during the next decade.

The major transmission projects identified in the 2018 plan are expected to be implemented during the next 10 years by the transmission owners to preserve system reliability and improve economic electricity transfers across the transmission network. Major projects are defined as those requiring transmission investments of more than $10 million.

The 2018 plan report can be viewed on the NCTPC website under the Reference Documents section at nctpc.org/nctpc/home.jsp.

The transmission projects for Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolinas in the 2018 plan include one new Duke Energy Progress project; four new Duke Energy Carolinas projects; and two Duke Energy Progress projects that were placed in service. In addition, two Duke Energy Carolinas projects and one Duke Energy Progress project were canceled. Appendices B and C in the 2018 plan report contains the specific details on each of the 19 major reliability projects identified in the plan.

In-service dates and cost estimates for some projects that are planned or underway have been revised.

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, North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation and ElectriCities of North Carolina.

Since its inception in 2005, projects totaling more than $1.5 billion have been identified in the NCTPC plans. More than $688 million in projects have been placed in service through the end of 2018, $606 million are still in the planning stage and another $244 million are being deferred until after 2028 or cancelled as a result of changing transmission system requirements. The 2017 plan included an estimate of $426 million for 17 projects. 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 2018 NCTPC study included a base reliability analysis for transmission needs to meet load growth between 2018 and 2028. In 2018, the NCTPC also examined the interconnection and network transmission system impacts of serving 300 MW of hypothetical load at six potential economic development sites that would have a choice of electric provider.

“The NCTPC brings all the state’s utilities together to assess the future of our electric transmission system and leverage the opportunities provided by the state’s changing utility landscape, including the continued adoption of renewables, improved energy efficiency and the incorporation of edge of grid technology,” said North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation’s John Lemire, chair of the NCTPC Oversight Steering Committee. “This year we also conducted a local economic study to determine the electric transmission infrastructure needs for several economic development sites that will support the growth and prosperity of communities across the state. All of these efforts allow us to better serve utility customers throughout North Carolina and ensure that we are providing them with the most reliable and affordable power possible.”

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 by going to the NCTPC website:  nctpc.org/nctpc/home.jsp.

During the NCTPC process, an administrative consultant serves as a facilitator who chairs the TAG and solicits input from the other stakeholders through the open TAG meetings. Richard Wodyka, the current NCTPC consultant, can be reached at rawodyka@aol.com.

If you have any comments or questions on the NCTPC process or the 2018-2028 Collaborative Transmission Plan Study Report, contact John Lemire at john.lemire@ncemcs.com or 919.875.3124.

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

ElectriCities of North Carolina (municipals)

• Michelle Vaught: 919.760.6334 | mvaught@electricities.org

Duke Energy

• Meghan Musgrave Miles: 980.373.2556 | Miles@duke-energy.com

North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (co-ops)

• Lisa Crawley: 919.645.3427 | Lisa.Crawley@ncemcs.com

We are monitoring the lingering effects of Winter Storm Diego.

As of 8:30 a.m., public power communities reported approximately 300 outages.

The Emergency Assistance program continues to be prepared and ready to respond if needed. As a reminder, it is activated by members through a call for assistance to Gregg Welch or Clarice Wilson at 919-760-6027.

We will keep you updated as things develop, and as always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can be of any additional assistance. Meanwhile, please continue to stay safe and warm!

ElectriCities of North Carolina Inc. has designated a 121.3-acre Smart Site in Apex’s Cash Corporate Center park. The designation guarantees that the site has met stringent requirements and is shovel-ready for new development.

Located on Production Drive in Apex, N.C., the Smart Site is approximately .2 miles from U.S. 1, two miles from I-540, and 18 miles from Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The site is also within 145 miles of the North Carolina Ports in Wilmington, N.C. The town of Apex serves the site’s utility services, including electricity, water and sewer. AT&T provides telecommunications services.

The site will now be marketed to growing businesses as a prime site for development in North Carolina.

About the Smart Sites Program
ElectriCities created the Smart Sites program in 2014 to help member communities prepare shovel-ready sites for economic development.

“In today’s competitive environment, it’s rare for a company to locate on an undeveloped property,” explains Daniels. “New and expanding companies expect existing buildings or a prepared, shovel-ready site to shorten the amount of time needed for construction. We created Smart Sites to expedite economic development in NC Public Power communities.”

Earning the Smart Sites designation is challenging. Potential sites must meet specific requirements and undergo an extensive review process by site selection experts, including Engineering Consulting Services and Creative Economic Development Consulting. Each site must have municipal electric service, have water and sewer access within 500 feet, and be within five miles of an interstate or interstate-quality highway.

ElectriCities markets Smart Sites at trade shows and industry events around the world. Other Smart Sites are in Farmville, Greenville, Kinston, Laurinburg, New Bern, Morganton, Albemarle, Shelby, Statesville, Tarboro, Washington and Wilson.

Learn More
To learn more about Wake County’s new Smart Site, the Smart Sites program, or economic development in NC Public Power communities, contact Brenda Daniels at bdaniels@electricities.org or 919-760-6363, or visit https://www.electricities.com/EconDev .

North Carolina is home to more than 70 public power communities that provide safe, reliable electric service and outstanding customer service to more than 1.2 million people.

“As hometown utilities, public power communities always have the best interest of their local residents at heart,” said Roy Jones, CEO of ElectriCities, a non-profit organization that works with public power communities across North Carolina and beyond. “During the recent hurricane, it’s been a true inspiration to see public power communities rally around each other and lend a hand to help their neighbors in need. That type of dedication and support is a hallmark of public power communities.”

Gov. Cooper Commends Public Power Providers

Cities and towns across the nation are celebrating Public Power Week from October 7-13 with special events aimed at recognizing utility workers and promoting the value of public power. Gov. Roy Cooper issued a formal proclamation to celebrate public power, commending public power utilities as valuable assets that contribute to the well-being of the community.

This year’s theme — “public power for the public good” — is a testament to the many ways that local power providers improve the quality of life in their communities. Those efforts include promoting economic development initiatives that create new jobs, providing emergency assistance in the aftermath of storms, and much more.

Reliability: A Public Power Tradition

Statistics show that public power providers consistently outperform investor-owned utilities when it comes to reliability. Public power communities experience fewer power outages and get the power restored more quickly than others.

Reliability is a major reason why 86 percent of public power customers said they are satisfied with their service and would choose public power if given a choice, according to a statewide survey conducted earlier this year.

North Carolina has 24 communities — more than any other state —recognized by the American Public Power Association (APPA) as Reliable Public Power Providers. This special designation is awarded to utilities that provide outstanding reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement.

A Rich History of Public Power in North Carolina

Public power has a rich tradition in North Carolina that dates back to 1889, when the City of Statesville began using electric lights instead of gas street lamps to illuminate the tiny downtown area. Today, North Carolina ranks among the top 10 providers of public power in the nation.

Nationally, there are more than 2,000 public power providers who serve 49 million people.

ElectriCities wins three awards for excellence in economic development communications

The Southern Economic Development Council, the nation’s oldest and largest regional economic development association, honored ElectriCities of North Carolina with three awards for outstanding communications during its annual conference in Alabama.

“We work hard to help public power communities get noticed by economic developers across the nation. These awards show that our marketing materials are effective in showcasing member communities and attracting attention,” said Brenda Daniels, manager of economic development at ElectriCities.

ElectriCities’ awards included:

• Category: Thinking Outside the Box
  First-Ever Our State Public House at the N.C. State Fair
  Award: Superior (Large Division)
• Category: Annual Reports
  ElectriCities of NC 2017 Annual Report
  Award: Superior ( Large Division)
• Category: General Purpose Promotion
  Facing East: The Public Power Communities of Eastern North Carolina
  Award: Excellent (Large Division)

“These annual communication awards recognize and showcase the leading communication and marketing work done by economic development professionals throughout the South,” said Gene Stinson, SEDC president. “ElectriCities of North Carolina hit the mark this year with three outstanding communication pieces that showed creativity, solid messaging and effectiveness at reaching their target audience.”

SEDC presents awards in more than twenty categories. Entries are based on graphic appeal, clarity of message, and quality of information. Judges include economic development consultants and design professionals from across the southern United States who work with clients to develop strategies for growth in their communities.

About Southern Economic Development Council

SEDC is the oldest and largest regional economic development association in North America, with more than 900 members representing a variety of backgrounds. From local, regional and state economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, business and industry, utilities, transportation, finance and education, members share a common interest: the promotion and enhancement of the economic development profession. To find out more about SEDC, please visit www.sedc.org.

ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., has announced the recipients of the 2017 Public Power Awards of Excellence. The awards align with ElectriCities’ five strategic priorities and recognize achievement in the areas of communicating the value of public power, grid modernization, continuous improvement, workforce development and wholesale power cost.

“It is an honor to recognize these outstanding public power communities for their commitment to providing exceptional reliability and superior service to their customers,” said ElectriCities CEO Roy Jones. “These hardworking employees and community leaders are truly at the heart of public power, showing tireless dedication and exemplifying what it means to be a committed community partner.”

The grid modernization award recognizes efforts to promote investment in public power communities’ electric distribution systems and in technology to ensure safety and reliability and exceed customer expectations. This year’s winners are: Gastonia, Greenville, New River Light & Power, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, Statesville and Wilson.

The value of public power award recognizes a communities’ efforts to communicate the value of electric system ownership to key stakeholders. This year’s winners are: Fayetteville, Gastonia, Granite Falls, Greenville, Kinston, Maiden, New Bern, New River Light & Power and Rocky Mount.

The wholesale power cost award recognizes a cities’ ability to provide competitive and stable wholesale electric rates that meet the power supply need of Power Agency Members. This year’s winners are: Albemarle, Gastonia, Greenville, Granite Falls, Kinston, Maiden, Newton, New River Light & Power, Rocky Mount, Smithfield, Statesville 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: Fayetteville, Greenville and Rocky Mount.

The continuous improvement award recognizes communities 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: Fremont, Gastonia, Granite Falls, Greenville, Kinston, Maiden, New River Light & Power, Fayetteville and Rocky Mount.

Hundreds of lineworkers from across the country will gather in Wake Forest, NC on Saturday, April 28 to demonstrate how quickly and safely they can climb power poles, hang transformers, rescue injured workers, and perform rope tosses and other feats commonly required of lineworkers.

“Being a lineworker requires tremendous skill and knowledge. This is a great opportunity for customers to get an up-close look at workers as they showcase their talents,” said ElectriCities CEO Roy Jones. “We are honored to host this event in North Carolina for the first time.”

The Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo is the nation’s premier competition of public power utility workers, featuring individual and team events with journeymen and apprentice lineworkers competing for professional recognition. The competition will take place on a course custom built by crews from the North Carolina Association of Municipal Electric Systems (NCAMES). The event is hosted by the American Public Power Association, ElectriCities, NCAMES and the Town of Wake Forest.

Wake Forest is one of more than 70 public power communities in North Carolina that service 1.2 million customers across the state, more than the populations of Raleigh and Charlotte combined. Lineworkers from a dozen North Carolina communities are participating, including Apex, Benson, Fayetteville, Gastonia, Greenville, High Point, Kinston, Rocky Mount, Shelby, Statesville, Tarboro, Washington, and Wake Forest.

“This is going to be a great community event,” said Wake Forest Mayor Vivian Jones. “We’re excited to welcome utility workers from across the United States to Wake Forest and we encourage families to come out and watch the lineworkers compete.”

A Family Fun Event: Food Truck Rodeo and PowerSecure Fun Zone
The event is free and open to the public. There will be about a dozen food trucks on site and the PowerSecure Fun Zone will provide a variety of interactive games and activities for children, including an inflatable slide, face painting, corn pit and photo booth. In addition, aspiring young lineworkers can try their hand at pole climbing and rope toss activities.

About the American Public Power Association
We are the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. We represent public power before the federal government to protect the interests of the more than 49 million customers that public power utilities serve, and the 93,000 people they employ. Our association advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations. Our members strengthen their communities by providing superior service, engaging citizens, and instilling pride in community-owned power.

ElectriCities of North Carolina Inc. has designated a 71-acre Smart Site in Perquimans County’s Perquimans Marine Industrial Park. The designation guarantees that the site has met stringent requirements and is shovel-ready for new development.|

Located on Granby Street in Hertford, N.C., the Smart Site is approximately .5 miles from U.S. Route 17 (future I-87), 65 miles from Virginia Norfolk International airport and within 60 miles of the Port of Virginia. The town of Hertford supplies the site’s utility services, including electricity, water and sewer. Century Link/Intelliport provides telecommunications services.

ElectriCities Economic Development Manager Brenda Daniels announced the designation to community leaders, including Horace C. Reid, Jr., Mayor of Hertford, Archie L. Aples III, Mayor Pro Tem of Hertford and Dave Goss, Perquimans County economic developer.

The site will now be marketed to growing businesses as a prime site for development in North Carolina.

About the Smart Sites Program
ElectriCities created the Smart Sites program in 2014 to help member communities prepare shovel-ready sites for economic development.

“In today’s competitive environment, it’s rare for a company to locate on an undeveloped property,” explains Daniels. “New and expanding companies expect existing buildings or a prepared, shovel-ready site to shorten the amount of time needed for construction. We created Smart Sites to expedite economic development in NC Public Power communities.”

Earning the Smart Sites designation is challenging. Potential sites must meet specific requirements and undergo an extensive review process by site selection experts, including Engineering Consulting Services and Creative Economic Development Consulting. Each site must have municipal electric service, have water and sewer access within 500 feet, and be within five miles of an interstate or interstate-quality highway.

ElectriCities markets Smart Sites at trade shows and industry events around the world. Other Smart Sites are in Farmville, Greenville, Kinston, Laurinburg, New Bern, Morganton, Albemarle, Shelby, Statesville, Tarboro, Washington and Wilson.

Learn More
To learn more about Perquimans County’s new Smart Site, the Smart Sites program, or economic development in NC Public Power communities, contact Brenda Daniels at bdaniels@electricities.org or 919-760-6363, or visit https://www.electricities.com/EconDev.

ElectriCities of North Carolina Inc. has designated a 175-acre Smart Site in Stanly County’s Albemarle Corporate Center. The designation guarantees that the site has met stringent requirements and is shovel-ready for new development.

Located in Stanly County, the Smart Site is approximately 30 miles from I-485 and Highway 24/27, 51 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport and within 151 miles of the Port of Wilmington. The City of Albemarle supplies the site’s utility services, including electricity, water and sewer. Spectrum and Windstream provide telecommunications services.

ElectriCities Economic Development Manager Brenda Daniels announced the designation to community leaders, including Mark Donham, director of economic development for the City of Albemarle.

The site will now be marketed to growing businesses as a prime site for development in North Carolina.

About the Smart Sites Program
ElectriCities created the Smart Sites program in 2014 to help member communities prepare shovel-ready sites for economic development.

“In today’s competitive environment, it’s rare for a company to locate on an undeveloped property,” explains Daniels. “New and expanding companies expect existing buildings or a prepared, shovel-ready site to shorten the amount of time needed for construction. We created Smart Sites to expedite economic development in NC Public Power communities.”

Earning the Smart Sites designation is challenging. Potential sites must meet specific requirements and undergo an extensive review process by site selection experts, including Engineering Consulting Services and Creative Economic Development Consulting. Each site must have municipal electric service, have water and sewer access within 500 feet, and be within five miles of an interstate or interstate-quality highway.

ElectriCities markets Smart Sites at trade shows and industry events around the world. Other Smart Sites are in Farmville, Greenville, Kinston, Laurinburg, New Bern, Hertford, Morganton, Shelby, Statesville, Tarboro, Washington and Wilson.

Learn More
To learn more about Stanly County’s new Smart Site, the Smart Sites program, or economic development in NC Public Power communities, contact Brenda Daniels at bdaniels@electricities.org or 919-760-6363, or visit https://www.electricities.com/EconDev.

ElectriCities of North Carolina Inc. has designated an 83-acre Smart Site in Burke County’s Burke Business Park. The designation guarantees that the site has met stringent requirements and is shovel-ready for new development.

Located at 4336 Sundown Road, the Smart Site is approximately 500 feet from Interstate 40, 50 miles from Asheville Regional Airport, and within 280 miles of a deep-water port. The City of Morganton supplies the site’s utility services, including electricity, water and sewer. AT&T/Charter Spectrum provides telecommunications services.

ElectriCities Economic Development Manager Brenda Daniels announced the designation to community leaders, including Sonja Marston, assistant city manager, City of Morganton and Hope Hopkins of Burke Development Inc.

The site will now be marketed to growing businesses as a prime site for development in North Carolina.

About the Smart Sites Program
ElectriCities created the Smart Sites program in 2014 to help member communities prepare shovel-ready sites for economic development.

“In today’s competitive environment, it’s rare for a company to locate on an undeveloped property,” explains Daniels. “New and expanding companies expect existing buildings or a prepared, shovel-ready site to shorten the amount of time needed for construction. We created Smart Sites to expedite economic development in NC Public Power communities.”

Earning the Smart Sites designation is challenging. Potential sites must meet specific requirements and undergo an extensive review process by site selection experts, including Engineering Consulting Services and Creative Economic Development Consulting. Each site must have municipal electric service, have water and sewer access within 500 feet, and be within five miles of an interstate or interstate-quality highway.

ElectriCities markets Smart Sites at trade shows and industry events around the world. Other Smart Sites are in Farmville, Greenville, Kinston, Laurinburg, New Bern, Hertford, Albemarle, Shelby, Statesville, Tarboro, Washington and Wilson.

Learn More
To learn more about Burke County’s new Smart Site, the Smart Sites program, or economic development in NC Public Power communities, contact Brenda Daniels at bdaniels@electricities.org or 919-760-6363.