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Cherryville Rail-Served Site Earns ElectriCities Smart Sites Designation

RALEIGH, N.C. — ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., has designated a 42-acre Smart Site in the public power city of Cherryville, North Carolina.

A Smart Sites designation guarantees that this prime industrial rail-served site has met stringent requirements and is shovel-ready for new industrial development.

“The Smart Sites designation simplifies the selection process for industrial locations,” said Carl Rees, ElectriCities Manager of Economic and Community Development. “Throughout the Smart Sites certification process, we conduct thorough due diligence, which includes environmental reviews, geotechnical evaluations, preliminary infrastructure studies, and facility siting studies, ensuring the site is prepared for industrial permitting at local, state, and federal levels.”

Zoned for general manufacturing and commercial construction, this Smart Site in Cherryville is located on W. Academy Street and Lester Street in Gaston County. The site has the added benefit of on-site rail access served by CSX Transportation.

The Cherryville Smart Site is approximately:

  • 10 miles from U.S. 74.
  • 54 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
  • 241 miles from the Port of Wilmington.

The closest transmission system is on-site, and the closest substation is 0.5 miles away.

The City of Cherryville supplies the site’s water and electricity, and Dominion Energy supplies the site’s natural gas.

To learn more about Cherryville’s new Smart Site, contact:

About the Smart Sites program

ElectriCities created the Smart Sites program to help its public power member communities—cities and towns that own and operate their electric systems—prepare shovel-ready sites for economic development.

Smart Sites must meet specific requirements and undergo an extensive review process by site selection experts. Each site must have municipal electric service, water and sewer access within 500 feet, and be within 5 miles of an interstate or interstate-quality highway. ElectriCities markets Smart Sites at trade shows and industry events around the world to get the word out about prime industrial development sites in North Carolina public power communities.

See the complete list of Smart Sites on the ElectriCities website. To learn more about the Smart Sites program or economic development in public power communities in North Carolina, contact Carl Rees at crees@electricities.org or visit http://www.electricities.com/EconDev.

Selma Industrial Site Earns ElectriCities Smart Sites Designation

RALEIGH, N.C. — ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., has designated a 51-acre Smart Site in the public power town of Selma, North Carolina.

A Smart Site designation guarantees that this site has met stringent requirements and is shovel-ready for new industrial development.

“Investing in a Smart Site comes with peace of mind, as these locations are certified ready for industrial development,” said Carl Rees, ElectriCities Manager of Economic and Community Development. “Smart Sites have undergone exhaustive due diligence, including environmental reviews, geotechnical reviews, preliminary infrastructure studies, and facility siting studies, so the sites are ready for permitting at every government level.”

This Selma Smart Site is approximately:

  • Less than 1 mile from U.S. 70 and Interstate 42.
  • 43 miles from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
  • 5 miles from Johnston Community College.

The closest transmission system is on-site, and the closest substation is 100 feet away.

The Town of Selma supplies the site’s water and electricity, and Piedmont Natural Gas supplies the site’s natural gas.

To learn more about Selma’s new Smart Site, contact:

Chris Johnson, Director, Johnston County Economic Development at 919-205-1232 or chris.johnson@johnstonnc.com.

ElectriCities’ Economic Development team at sites@electricities.org.

 About the Smart Sites program

ElectriCities created the Smart Sites program to help its public power member communities—cities and towns that own and operate their electric systems—prepare shovel-ready sites for economic development.

Smart Sites must meet specific requirements and undergo an extensive review process by site selection experts. Each site must have municipal electric service, water and sewer access within 500 feet, and be within 5 miles of an interstate or interstate-quality highway. ElectriCities markets Smart Sites at trade shows and industry events around the world to get the word out about prime industrial development sites in North Carolina public power communities.

See the complete list of Smart Sites on the ElectriCities website. To learn more about the Smart Sites program or economic development in public power communities in North Carolina, contact Carl Rees at crees@electricities.org or visit http://www.electricities.com/EconDev.

Spotlight on ElectriCities Safety Instructor Anthony Michaels

The ElectriCities Safety and Training team brings many careers’ worth of experience and expertise to help lineworkers, meter technicians, and substation technicians throughout ElectriCities member communities gain the skills and expertise needed to work safely and advance their careers.

ElectriCities Safety and Training team members Ross Whitehurst, Nick Whitley, and Anthony Michaels at the 2023 NCAMES Lineman’s Rodeo in Greenville, North Carolina.

To give you a peek into that experience and expertise, we’re introducing you to each of our instructors.

So far, you’ve met:

Now let’s get to know Anthony Michaels, Senior Safety & Training Specialist.

Anthony has been a lineworker for 29 years, starting right out of high school. This month he’s celebrating two years as an instructor with ElectriCities. Before joining ElectriCities, he served the Town of Dallas for almost 23 years, working his way up from lineworker to supervisor.

Born and raised in the Gastonia area, Anthony says the love for linework runs in his family. His brother, nephew, and his niece’s husband are all lineworkers. That makes family gatherings full of interesting stories and conversations.

How did you get into linework?

At the store one day, a guy asked me if I was looking for work. I asked him what kind of work, and he said “linework.” I wasn’t sure what he meant and asked him, “What’s linework?” He pointed up to the sky and said, “See those wires on top of the pole?” I said, “Yeah.” He said, “Working on them.” So, I went to work for Pike Electric and was there a little over four years.

What do you like best about teaching?

I enjoy seeing the excitement in the younger guys who are just starting their career and their eagerness to learn and work.

Anthony Michaels (left) teaches equipotential grounding during a hands-on session at the 2024 NCAMES Lineman’s Rodeo in Concord, North Carolina.

Do you have a favorite class or school to teach?

I like teaching all the schools. Climbing is a good school because you really get to help the students learn what linework is all about. In the advanced schools, you can see the progression of the students as they have come through the ElectriCities Apprenticeship Program.

What’s the most important thing you want students to take away from class?

To be able to perform their jobs safely and have the know-how to do it.

Anthony’s connection with his students doesn’t end when class is over. He tells them, “If I could ever help you in any way—even once you’re through the Apprenticeship Program, don’t hesitate to call me.”

He mainly teaches at our Newberry, South Carolina, facility. He helps at the other training locations when needed, as does everyone on the Safety and Training team, he said.

Coming up, Anthony will be teaching Basic Underground (ELT 211), Aug. 19-23, in Newberry and Advanced Underground (ELT 212), Oct. 7-11, in Newberry.

View the full training schedule here. If you have questions about classes or registration, contact Susanne Taylor, Member Training and Engagement Specialist at ElectriCities.

Public Power Communities Prepare for Hurricane Season Year-round

Nobody looks forward to hurricane season and the destruction storms can bring.

At the Climate Prediction Center, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service forecasters have predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin in 2024.

But residents and business owners in public power communities can be confident that their locally based electric utility crews are ready to respond to storms and to keep their lights shining.

Public power communities prepare for hurricane season all year to ensure that local electric grids are reliable and resilient when adverse weather strikes.

All year long, electric utility employees in public power communities focus on performing maintenance and removing dangers to the electric grid. That includes replacing aging utility poles and trimming trees that threaten to interfere with power lines.

Public power communities also benefit from a mutual aid network that enables them to give and receive support from lineworkers in public power communities nearby or across the country.

Nick Whitley is Supervisor of Safety and Training with ElectriCities, a membership organization that supports public power communities in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Whitley coordinates mutual aid for ElectriCities member communities.

“When a storm ravages a community, mutual aid crews work with local crews as the first responders who safely and quickly restore power in dangerous conditions,” says Whitley. “Prioritizing hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, and other critical infrastructure, crews work circuit-by-circuit to get every light back on.”

After a storm passes and once the lights are back on, public power communities remain focused on maintaining a resilient electric grid.

“From hurricane training drills to tree trimming maintenance, public power communities are always preparing for the threat of a storm,” says Craig Batchelor, Manager of Safety and Training at ElectriCities. “By preparing year-round, public power communities set themselves up for success in the face of dangerous storms and remain ready to support other communities through mutual aid.”

Transitioning to Summer Load Management

Whether your community’s load management programs use switches, generators, or both, if you haven’t already prepared for the summer heat, it’s time. Details may differ for each community, but the goal is the same: Reduce your wholesale power costs by decreasing the demand on your electric system when demand for electricity is highest.

Residential Load Management

Participating in a residential load management program involves having a remotely controlled switch attached to customers’ appliances that have the most impact on peak demand.

“Now is a good time to inform those customers who aren’t participating in load management about how your program works and the value of it—especially with the extreme heat North Carolina summers can bring,” says Jason Thigpen, Manager of Power Supply Operations at Electricities.

NCEMPA members can use our Load Management Switch Program bill insert to educate customers. These and other bill inserts are free for ElectriCities members.

Customers already participating in residential load management need a different message. Transitioning from winter to summer means:

  1. Different appliances are affected. Water heaters are typically controlled year-round, but air conditioners replace heat strips in the summer months.
  2. Load management time of day changes. In winter, peak demand is usually 6-8 a.m. Summer peak periods are longer and typically in the afternoon—about 2-7 p.m., with most occurring 3-6 p.m.

Utility, Commercial, and Industrial Load Management

Much of non-residential load management involves generators on both sides of the meter. Whether your program involves generators the city or town owns or the customer owns, take time now to get them ready for summer.

Jack Yox, Supervisor of Distributed Resources at ElectriCities, advises:

  1. Walk around the generator to check for leaks, puddles, or other issues that need attention.
  2. Top off the radiator coolant.
  3. Inspect fan belts for condition and proper tension.
  4. Inspect fluid hoses for leaks and possible defects.
  5. Ensure battery chargers are working properly and batteries are fully charged.
  6. Ensure enclosure louvers operate correctly.
  7. Top off storage fuel tanks to prevent condensation.
  8. Treat fuel with anti-gel/antimicrobial additives.
  9. Polish stored fuels to extract contaminants, including microbials, particulates, and water, that can cause significant engine problems.

No matter the season, Jack recommends these ongoing practices to ensure generators are in top shape and ready when you need them—whether for load management or emergency operation:

  1. Change oil regularly and replace fuel, oil, and air filters.
  2. Perform periodic switchgear maintenance.
  3. Regularly lubricate breakers.
  4. Calibrate DOC equipment annually and ensure it works.
  5. Complete monthly above-ground fuel tank inspections in accordance with the SP001 AST Inspection Standard.

“Almost every member in North Carolina participates in load management in some form, which collectively saves members millions of dollars each year,” says Jason. “Taking steps now to prepare to manage the summer demand peaks ensures your utility and your customers don’t miss out on those savings.”

Sharing information about load management is another way to show your customers that their hometown public power utility is working to help them reduce energy use and save money.
For more information about load management or transitioning to summer load management, contact Jason Thigpen.

Energy Efficiency Experts Share Money-Saving Tips for Summer

Yes, you can reduce your energy bill, even in the sweltering summer heat.

That’s according to John Keever, Lead Energy Services Specialist, and Alan Miller, Energy Advisor, both with ElectriCities of North Carolina.

Keever and Miller conduct energy audits for public power customers throughout North Carolina.

When it comes to saving energy, they say small actions can add up to big results. With these tips, you can beat the heat this summer and reduce your risk of getting scorched by a high electric bill.

Close the window shades. Blocking the sun is a simple way to cool your home, especially during the hottest times of the day.

Set your thermostat to 78°F. For every degree above 78°, you’ll save 3-5% on cooling costs. The reverse is also true, so for every degree below 78°, your bill will increase by 3-5%.

“It surprises people when I tell them that their cooling system is not designed to stay at 68° in the summer,” Keever says.

Use a ceiling fan along with your AC. A fan can make you feel 4° cooler and only costs pennies.

But, Miller says, “Remember: Fans cool people, not rooms. For more savings, turn them off when you’re not around.”

Check the weather stripping around your doors and windows. Try the dollar test. Close a door or window on a dollar bill and try to pull it loose. If it slides out easily, you need to replace your weatherstripping. A 1/8-inch gap around a door or window lets out the same amount of air as a 2 1/2-inch hole in your wall.

Change dirty air filters. Dirty filters make your HVAC unit work harder. That means it uses more energy to get results. And using more energy means a higher bill! Ditch the dirty filter and swap it for a fresh, clean one each month.

That doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor. “Cheap filters work just as well as the more expensive kind,” Miller says.

Clean up around your HVAC unit. Don’t let foliage or debris pile up. It forces your unit to work harder to pull in outside air.

Get your central AC system checked by a professional once a year. An improperly running unit can bump up your monthly bill.

Ask your electric provider for an energy audit. Unlock personalized tips for using electricity efficiently by inviting an expert to inspect your home.

“Concerns over high bills drive most energy audits, so we focus on reducing your utility bill, increasing energy efficiency, and improving comfort in your home,” says Keever.

For more ways to use less energy and reduce your electric bill, visit energy.gov/save.

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, 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.

NCAMES Hall of Fame Gets a New Member

Congratulations to New Bern’s Mike Harper, the latest public power legend inducted into the NCAMES Hall of Fame.

Enthusiastic hard worker, teammate, leader, fierce competitor, teacher, mentor, and friend—all words that come up when talking about Mike.

After working as a groundman for various contractors, Mike joined the City of New Bern as a 2nd class lineman back in November 1991. He retired in December 2022 as the Transmission and Distribution Manager, and he continues to share his expertise through consulting.

Charles Bauschard, Director of Public Utilities for the City of New Bern, nominated Mike for the Hall of Fame.

“During his 31 years with the City of New Bern, Mike set the standard for the lineman profession,” Charles said. Working his way up from groundman to manager, “he maintained an excellent safety record and expected no less from others working next to him.”

Mike served as an instructor in ElectriCities safety schools. And he assisted in numerous emergency events, including hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods, helping restore power in communities across the state and the country.

A decorated rodeo competitor, Mike helped plan, construct, judge, and administer many rodeos for the American Public Power Association and NCAMES.

Mike is the only four-time NCAMES Overall Journeyman, and he was a member of the NCAMES rodeo team that won Overall Journeyman at the 2008 APPA rodeo in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Philip Hiatt, NCAMES president and Senior Electrical Engineer for the City of High Point, worked with Mike on the NCAMES Safety and Training Committee for many years.

“Mike is one of those people you don’t forget once you meet him,” Philip said. “He always had time to talk and would tell you how he was going to run a rodeo event, but he would say, ‘You still got to beat me.’”

“I am grateful for the contributions Mike made to our industry,” Charles added. “Mike has made this world, our industry, and the local community a better place to live.”

Congratulations Mike! And thank you for your years of dedicated service.

52 ElectriCities Members Recognized for Excellent Safety Records in 2023

Congratulations to the 52 ElectriCities member utilities that had no lost workday cases due to accidents or injuries in 2023.

Recipients of the 2023 ElectriCities Municipal Electric Safety Awards are:

North Carolina

Albemarle Laurinburg
Belhaven Lexington
Benson Lincolnton
Cherryville Louisburg
Clayton Maiden
Dallas Monroe
East Carolina University Morganton
Edenton New Bern
Elizabeth City New River Light & Power
Enfield N.C. State University
Farmville Pinetops
Fayetteville Public Works Commission Pineville
Forest City Scotland Neck
Fremont Selma
Gastonia Shelby
Granite Falls Smithfield
Greenville Utilities Commission Tarboro
Hamilton Walstonburg
Hobgood Washington
Hookerton Waynesville
Kings Mountain Western Carolina University
Kinston Wilson
Landis Winterville

South Carolina

Easley

Greer Public Works

McCormick Public Works

Newberry

Westminster

Virginia

Danville

ElectriCities Senior Safety & Training Specialist Mark Todd, CUSP, recognized each member for their perfect records and safe operating practices at the North Carolina Association of Municipal Electric System (NCAMES) conference on May 9.

Reporting on-the-job accidents and injuries is required by OSHA, but Mark 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.

The team uses the information to tweak training classes and to ensure they emphasize certain safety practices.

“If, for example, we’re seeing a lot of lineworkers with injuries caused by trips and slips, that tells us we need to review the importance of identifying hazards before work begins and staying aware of your surroundings while you work,” Mark said.

Even when everyone is committed to creating a culture of safety, injuries and accidents can still happen, he said.

“I appreciate and thank each member utility employee who is committed to safety and who completed 2023 with no accidents or injuries—whether or not your city or town received an award.”

For more information about the ElectriCities Municipal Electric Safety Awards, contact Mark Todd. And visit the ElectriCities website to learn about upcoming ElectriCities safety training classes.

Spotlight on ElectriCities Safety Instructor Ross Whitehurst

Ross Whitehurst teaches “Personal Protective Grounding – Underground Applications” at the 2024 Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo in Lafayette, Louisiana. He taught the class along with other members of the ElectriCities Safety & Training team.

The ElectriCities Safety and Training team brings many careers’ worth of experience and expertise to help lineworkers, meter technicians, and substation technicians throughout ElectriCities member communities gain the skills and expertise needed to work safely and advance their careers.

We’d like you to meet each of our instructors.

So far, we’ve introduced you to:

Next up is Ross Whitehurst, Supervisor of Safety & Training.

Ross has been a lineworker for 23 years. This month, he’s celebrating four years as an instructor at ElectriCities. Before joining ElectriCities, he served the Town of Tarboro for 19 years. That’s where he’s from. He and his wife, Kim, are the proud parents of Hailee, a junior at N.C. State University.

How did you get into linework?

I was working on a farm, doing landscaping, and coaching football at my old high school. I had just had one of those days at work when one of the assistant coaches, who was a line crew leader, asked me if I would like to try linework. So here I am.

What do you like best about teaching?

Interacting with the students and teaching the younger and older students new things about safety in linework.

Do you have a favorite class or school to teach?

At the rodeo, Ross also served as Chief Judge of an Apprentice event, “Single Phase Conductor Tie In with Armor Rods.”

Any school except transformer school. My favorite moment is when a student learns something new.

What’s the most important thing you want students to take away from class?

That they had fun and learned something from me in the school.

Ross said he likes to work, so students should expect a lot of that during class!

He’ll be teaching Advanced Underground School (ELT 212), May 13-17, in Maiden, North Carolina. He’s also scheduled to teach Advanced Lineworker School (ELT 116), Oct. 21-25, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and Substation Maintenance (ELT 221), Nov. 18-22, in Greenville, North Carolina.

View the full training schedule here. If you have questions about classes or registration, contact Susanne Taylor, Member Training and Engagement Specialist at ElectriCities.