Electricities is the energy behind public power! They provide professional and technical assistance to municipal utilities. We also provide management services to the state’s two municipal Power Agencies: NCMPA1 and NCEMPA. Learn more about public power and Electricities by clicking here or visiting www.electricities.com. 

Electricities FAQs

Electricities is a not-for-profit government service organization representing more than 90 cities, towns and universities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia that own electric distribution systems.

Why was Electricities formed?

In the mid-1960s, private utilities and electric cooperatives were battling over territory. The N.C. General Assembly passed the 1965 Electric Act to resolve many of the disputes, but this created new difficulties for municipal systems by restricting their right to serve customers in newly annexed areas.

Electricities was organized to provide the municipal systems a unified voice to speak out in the legislature. The group was unable to stop the bill’s passage but decided to form a permanent alliance to be an advocate for Public Power and its customers statewide.

In 1983, at the request of the cities, the Legislature expanded this voluntary association by allowing North Carolina’s “electric cities” to form an agency to aid municipalities in the construction, ownership, maintenance, expansion and operation of their electric systems.

What does Electricities do?

It provides customer service and safety training, emergency and technical assistance, communications, government affairs and legal services. This consolidation saves money for its members, including Wilson Energy.

For example, aerial device testing, infrared scanning and substation maintenance training cost significantly less through Electricities contracts than if the cities contracted the services themselves.

Electricities schools and workshops keep utility personnel up-to-date on how to properly handle hazardous substances, customer service, utility credit and collections, load conservation marketing and other aspects of the business.

Training programs encourage safe work habits and reduce potential liability. Lineman training and municipal transformer schools teach step-by-step safety measures to use in daily duties.

Since 1986, Electricities has operated an Emergency Assistance Program, which allows the state’s 74 municipal electric systems to restore power quickly after ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes and tropical storms. The program works by dispatching crews from cities that have not been impacted or have already restored most of their outages to cities that need extra help.

Electricities also provides management services to the state’s two municipal Power Agencies: North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 (NCMPA1) and North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA).

What are the Power Agencies?

North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA)

North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA) - NCEMPA consists of 32 cities and towns in eastern North Carolina, including some of the largest cities in the region, that own and operate their electric systems. NCEMPA was formed in 1982 and provides wholesale power to its 32 participants.

Governance

NCEMPA is governed by a Board of Commissioners (BOC), which consists of 14 members elected from throughout North Carolina. Each participant appoints a Commissioner and an Alternate Commissioner to the Board. The BOC meets at least three times a year. The Electricities Board of Directors (BOD) provides oversight of NCEMPA operations.

North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 (NCMPA1)

NCMPA1 consists of 19 cities and towns in piedmont and western North Carolina, including some of the largest areas of economic growth. NCMPA1 owns a portion of the Catawba Nuclear Station, operated by Duke Energy. NCMPA1 provides wholesale power to its 19 participants.

Does Electricities provide power to its members?

Electricities is a service organization, not a power supplier. Its members receive their electricity from their participation in power agencies or by purchasing it from investor-owned utilities such as Duke Power and Progress Energy or electric cooperatives.

How is Electricities funded?

Electricities is a not-for-profit organization that is financed through membership fees and dues, as well as through rate and service revenue and tuition from training programs and workshops. With a reorganization several years ago, a new status was created to allow for associate members, which include the South Carolina and Virginia cities and university systems.