History
PWC’s Vision: We aspire to be recognized as the best utility in the United States.
PWC’s Mission: We deliver safe, reliable, and affordable electricity, water, and wastewater services to our customers that reside in Fayetteville and many surrounding areas in Cumberland County, North Carolina.
For 120 years, PWC has proudly served the Fayetteville/Cumberland County area as a hometown utility that provides award-winning, reliable electric, water, and wastewater services, with rates that are among the lowest in the state.
As the 38th largest municipal electric utility in the U.S., PWC has been recognized by the American Public Power Association for outstanding system reliability as a seven-time recipient of the RP3 (Reliable Public Power Provider) Diamond Designation. PWC is one of only two public power utilities to have earned the Diamond Level designation six or more times. PWC has also received the APPA’s E.F. Scattergood System Achievement Award twice and their Sue Kelly Community Service Award four times.
PWC is a charter member of the Partnership for Safe Drinking Water, developed jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, American Water Works Association, utilities, and other water organizations. In 2000, PWC became the first utility in North Carolina to be recognized with their Director’s Award for exemplary practices. PWC has maintained the Director’s Award for 25 years, an honor achieved by less than 200 water utilities across the country.
PWC’s more than 650 employees work diligently to remain customer-focused and take pride in being good neighbors who are committed to quality services, fiscal responsibility, reliability, safety, and environmental stewardship.
A Look Back
The Fayetteville Public Works Commission was established on March 4, 1905 by the North Carolina Legislature to manage the city’s electric, water, and wastewater utilities. PWC’s Board of Commissioners is comprised of four members appointed by the Fayetteville City Council, each serving staggered four-year terms.
Over the years, legislative updates have refined PWC’s role. On June 29, 2016, the North Carolina Legislature repealed the portion of the City of Fayetteville Charter that specifically and exclusively dealt with PWC and replaced it with an updated version that more clearly defined the roles and responsibilities of the Commission and the City of Fayetteville. Most notably, the Legislature defined PWC as a Public Authority under North Carolina law that is subject to the applicable state statutes that govern Public Authorities.
PWC’s operations have always been rooted in Fayetteville. The utility has consistently expanded to meet the needs of a growing population, maintaining competitive rates and reliable services.
In 1914, the old City Hall site on Green Street was leased for an office and electrical substation. As demand grew, facilities were relocated and expanded, culminating in the completion of a dedicated Administration Building on Person Street in 1966. In 1987, PWC acquired a 65-acre tract of land on Old Wilmington Road to develop a centralized complex, enhancing operational efficiency. It is the current location of PWC’s Operations Complex. A Customer Service Center opened downtown in 2000 and moved to a LEED-certified building at the Operations Complex in 2009.
Electric Service
Fayetteville’s electric service began in 1900 with a steam-driven plant. As demand outpaced supply, the city partnered with Fayetteville Traction & Power and later with Carolina Power & Light (now Duke Energy Progress) for the purchase of power. PWC’s Butler-Warner Generation Plant, established in the 1970s, remains a key asset, with upgrades increasing its capacity to 265 MW. PWC currently operates 32 substations and three points-of-delivery for bulk power.
In July 2012, PWC became a full-requirements customer of Duke Energy Progress (DEP) as part of a 20-year power supply agreement signed in June 2009. In a separate agreement, PWC’s Butler-Warner Generation Plant (BWGP) is dispatched by DEP to meet the combined needs of PWC and DEP customers. PWC will continue to operate and maintain the plant while DEP reimburses PWC for certain operating costs and pays a fee based on plant performance.
In November 2019, PWC and DEP amended the contract to run through 2042. PWC has the option to end the contract in 2032 with a three-year notice. In a separate agreement, DEP agreed to extend its contract to lease BWGP. Through this important partnership, PWC is able to provide lower rates for our customers.
Also in 2019, PWC launched North Carolina’s first community solar farm at BWGP, capable of producing 1 megawatt (MW) of solar power. The community solar farm has 2 MW of battery storage. Batteries are deployed during peak usage to reduce demand on the electrical system and ultimately lower PWC power supply costs.
PWC began operating its new solar farm on Gillespie Street in March 2025. This solar farm is capable of producing 1.8 MW of power. Construction has begun on a second solar farm at PWC’s Rockfish Creek Water Reclamation Facility, and a third is planned for Carvers Falls Road. In addition, PWC is nearing completion of designing an additional 4 MW expansion to the existing solar farm at Butler-Warner Generation Plant.
Water Service
PWC continues to be committed to supplying quality drinking water to over 225,000 residents, which meets or surpasses state and federal standards and achieves the highest standards of customer satisfaction. PWC draws water from two independent water sources, the Cape Fear River and Glenville Lake. P.O. Hoffer and Glenville Lake Water Treatment Facilities have a combined treatment capacity of 58 million gallons a day (MGD).
PWC also has a 40-year contract (through 2047) with the Department of War to provide water to Fort Bragg. PWC partnered with Harnett County to provide the military installation with a maximum daily demand of 16 MGD.
The first water service in Fayetteville was installed before the Civil War, and the source of water was Fountainhead Spring. Glenville Lake was formed in the 1890’s, and the first filtration plant was built in 1912. The current Glenville Lake Plant was built in 1942, and treatment capacity has expanded over the decades to 18 MGD today.
The P.O. Hoffer Water Treatment Facility, built in 1967 on the Cape Fear River, was named in honor of P.O. Hoffer, former chairperson of PWC’s Board of Commissioners. It was designed so that it could be expanded in increments to an ultimate treatment capacity of 96 MGD. It now has a capacity of 39.5 MGD.
PWC is upgrading its current Powder Activated Carbon (PAC) treatment capabilities at Hoffer in 2025. Construction of the Granulated Active Carbon Facilities at both treatment plants is expected to begin in 2026, with an expected completion date of 2029. This will ensure compliance with the recently applied federal regulations regarding PFAS contamination in our source water(s). The Hoffer plant was the host site for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s historic announcement of the final PFAS drinking water standards in April 2024.
PWC’s water treatment facilities have consistently met and exceeded high regulatory standards. As charter members of the Partnership for Safe Drinking Water, PWC has earned their Director’s Award annually since 2000. PWC was also recognized with the 2024 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance by the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA). PWC was one of five utilities in the nation recognized for this prestigious award that year. It represents the utility’s continuing commitment to cutting-edge water treatment technology and dedication to providing safe and reliable drinking water.
In April 2024, PWC and Cumberland County announced a partnership to expand PWC’s current water system to provide drinking water to the Gray’s Creek Water and Sewer District, starting with service to the Gray’s Creek and Alderman Road Elementary Schools. This partnership will help address the widespread GenX contamination of groundwater throughout the county.
Wastewater Service
Fayetteville’s first sanitary sewer mains were installed in 1906. PWC completed the Cross Creek Water Reclamation Facility in 1959. It expanded to 25 MGD and was joined by the Rockfish Creek Water Reclamation Facility in 1985, which now treats 21 MGD.
In addition, under a state-monitored Land Application Program, PWC recycles biosolids on approximately 4,000 acres of Cumberland, Robeson, and Hoke County farmland, including a 750-acre farm owned by PWC.
In 2016, PWC earned the North Carolina American Water Works Association-Water Environment Association Wastewater Collection System of the Year Award in the Large System category (750+ miles of collection system). This award honors the collection system personnel who serve their community with a high level of professionalism and diligent work in the operation and maintenance of their wastewater collection system facilities. The utility continues to innovate and expand, ensuring reliable and sustainable services for the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community.
Legacy of Service, Innovation, and Community Pride
Thanks to the bold vision of Fayetteville’s founding leaders, PWC stands today as one of our community’s most valuable assets. For over a century, PWC has not only kept pace with the city’s rapid growth – it has powered it forward. From delivering affordable, safe electric, water, and wastewater services to expanding infrastructure across urbanized areas, PWC has remained a driving force behind Fayetteville’s progress. With rates that rival major cities across North Carolina and electric prices that are among the most competitive in the state, PWC continues to prove that excellence and affordability can go hand in hand. It’s more than a utility – PWC is a legacy of service, innovation, and community pride.
NOTE: More detailed histories of each service are available in the links at the top of this page.
Operations Complex
Located at 955 Old Wilmington Road, the 65-acre PWC campus is the central location for all PWC operating and administrative functions. This centralization of non-plant facilities lends itself to efficiency and effectiveness in manpower requirements, equipment utilization, materials management, information flow, customer service, security, and operations control.
Development of the PWC Campus began in 1987. It was designed by LSV Partnership of Fayetteville and built to be environmentally responsible with numerous features that maximize the use of natural resources. In 2014, PWC completed a Retro-Commissioning Project on the main operations facility/building (constructed in 1998) that included replacement lighting; energy improvements to heating, ventilation, AC systems; and an upgraded automation system to improve operating efficiency of the chiller plant and reduce air-handling unit run times. The Retro-Commissioning Project and related upgrades resulted in a 30% reduction in energy consumption compared to pre-2014 levels.
In 2020 and 2021, facility upgrades included the Fleet Building expansion to meet compliance and operation standards. In 2022 and 2023, facility upgrades included roof replacements on the Electric and Water Vehicle Sheds.
Operations Complex Design Features:
- Consolidation of warehousing and operation facilities improves efficiency and reduces emissions.
- Building locations and landscape design maximize open areas, conserve waterways, save trees, and control stormwater runoff.
- Energy-efficient windows and exterior aluminum shades take advantage of natural light and maximize heating/cooling savings.
- Structural, mechanical, and electrical systems design allows for interior flexibility, resulting in cost-effective modifications with material minimization over time.
- Durable, long-lasting materials – such as exterior precast panels, terrazzo floors, wallpaper, and porcelain tiles – minimize maintenance costs and the use of chemicals.
- “Cool Roofs” (white reflective single-ply membranes) improve energy efficiency and recycling capabilities.
- An energy management system maximizes efficient operation and energy usage for the HVAC systems and some interior lighting.
- Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and light emitting diodes (LEDs) provide energy savings.
- Water-efficient fixtures, such as low water use toilet fixtures and faucets, reduce water use.
Robert C. Williams Business Center
Location
- 201 Hay Street, Downtown Fayetteville
History
- Constructed on the former site of the Hotel de Lafayette, which had been vacant for 25 years.
- Officially dedicated on September 29, 2000.
- Named for former PWC Commissioner, Robert C. Williams, a retired educator and PWC Board member for 20 years.
- Broke ground on March 3, 1991.
- Opened August 2000.
- When it opened, it housed PWC’s Customer Service and Business Development departments.
Design
- Class A office space designed by architects Shuller, Ferris, Johnson, & Lindstrom.
- Four story, 57,787 sq. ft. building (includes a 764 sq. ft. Elevator Equipment Penthouse).
- Designed to have similar appearance of the former Lafayette Hotel – red brick exterior, open storefront on the first floor, and a rounded tower on the corner – which stood on the 200 Block of Hay Street for most of the 1900s.
Features
- 57,023 sq. ft. of leasable space; approximately 84% currently leased.
- Served as PWC’s Customer Service Center from 2000-2009.
- Current tenants (sq. ft.):
- United States Government – Department of Veterans Affairs (17,277)
- The Charleston Group, Attorneys at Law (6,476)
- Adams, Burge, & Boughman – Attorneys at Law (3,909)
- Edward Jones (1,235)
- ABC-WTVD 11/ABC Disney (1,520)
- Security National Mortgage Company (2,254)
- US LBM Holdings, LLC (1,388)
- Softact Solutions (1,709)
- Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation (9,422)
- PWC has contracted with Grant Murray Real Estate to market the RCWBC and manage lease negotiations for new leases and lease extensions.
- PWC joined the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County in a three-party agreement to fund the construction of Fayetteville’s first public parking deck downtown. The $6.2 million parking deck opened in February 2012 and is connected to the Robert C. Williams Business Center by a walkway to the 3rd floor, providing 98 allocated spaces for RCWBC tenants.
Affiliations
PWC is proud of its association and involvement with numerous local, state, and national organizations. PWC’s involvement includes active board and committee memberships by PWC staff members. The benefits include PWC’s input in local, regional, and national issues, and increased recognition to the quality workforce and resources of PWC and the Fayetteville/Cumberland County area.
Local/Regional Affiliations
- Cape Fear River Assembly
- Downtown Alliance
- ElectriCities of North Carolina
- Fayetteville Area Plant Managers Association
- Fayetteville Board of Realtors
- Fayetteville/Cumberland Economic Development Corporation
- Fayetteville Home Builders Association
- Fayetteville Plumbers Association
- Greater Fayetteville Chamber
- Hope Mills Chamber of Commerce
- Plug-In NC
- Sandhills Area Land Trust
- Southeastern Electric Reliability Council (SERC)
- Sustainable Sandhills
National Affiliations
- American Public Power Association
- American Water Works Association
- EPA WaterSense
- North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC)
- SmartGrid Consumer Collaborative
- Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies
