In an era when utility costs across the nation seem to rise faster than household incomes, it’s easy for frustration to overshadow facts. But every once in a while, it’s worth pausing to recognize the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our community running — and to keep our rates among the lowest in North Carolina.
That’s exactly what the Fayetteville Public Works Commission has done, and continues to do, for the residents of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
In a meeting in late February, PWC held a public hearing and adopted a two year electric rate adjustment. No utility enjoys raising rates, and PWC is no exception. But the truth is simple: the cost of providing safe, reliable electric service has risen sharply, and PWC has absorbed those increases for as long as possible. Now, to keep pace with unavoidable expenses, modest adjustments are necessary.
And here’s the part too often overlooked — PWC has done an extraordinary job protecting its customers from the worst of national price increases.
A Local Success Story
According to J.D. Power, average utility prices nationwide have surged 34% since 2020. That’s the reality facing families from coast to coast. However, PWC has kept electric rate increases to just 16.5% over the same period — less than half the national average. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because PWC’s leadership, engineers, lineworkers, accountants, and support staff have spent years cutting costs, tightening budgets, and finding efficiencies long before asking local Fayetteville/Cumberland County customers to pay a penny more. Over the last four years, PWC has reduced operations and maintenance costs by an average of $15.8 million per year, and deferred or reclassified another $7.6 million annually in capital projects. That is responsible stewardship.
The Real Costs PWC Must Address
Even with these savings, some increases cannot be avoided:
• Duke Energy rate increases
• Debt service for capital improvements
• Rising electrical system and operating expenses
These are not optional costs. This is the price of keeping the lights on, our water clean, and the wastewater system safe — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Still Among the Lowest Rates in North Carolina
The average residential customer will see about an $8 a month increase, and even with these unavoidable adjustments, most PWC residential customers will be less than the state average and less than every other electric provider serving Cumberland County.
Without a doubt, rates matter, but so does reliability, and our PWC ranks among the best in the entire state. Google it! Fewer outages. Faster response times. Better infrastructure. That’s the result of decades of disciplined investment and a workforce committed to excellence.
When storms hit, when temperatures spike, when the grid is strained, PWC’s crews are out there — often before dawn, often in dangerous conditions — making sure our community stays powered and protected.
Unlike other towns and cities, our rate adjustments were not made in a back room or rushed through without scrutiny. This is another way PWC reflects commitment to the trust of the people it serves.
This editorial was chosen and needed because it’s important to give credit where credit is due. Many communities feel powerless against rising utility costs. Here in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, we have something very special: a public utility that works relentlessly to keep rates low, reliability high, and service dependable.
PWC’s board, management, staff, and employees deserve recognition for their hard work and discipline, foresight, and dedication. They have done what many utilities across the country have not done. They have protected their customers from the worst of national inflation while continuing to deliver exceptional service.
That’s not just good management. That’s good stewardship. And it’s one more reason Fayetteville remains a strong, resilient, and forward looking community.
Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.