Residential Rates

PWC rates for electric, water, and sewer services are among the lowest in the region and state. When customers compare their total PWC bill to that of other utilities, for most they need to review the individual utility service and amount consumed, not the total bill. Most PWC customers have multiple services because PWC provides electric, water and wastewater services, whereas Duke Energy, Lumbee River EMC, South River EMC, and Aqua NC only provide one service.  

Need help managing your bill?  Click here for Utility Assistance Resources.

Rate Comparison Chart will be updated in July 2025

Current Rates

What is a basic facility charge?

Service Regulations & Charges

---

About proposed rate adjustments:

• Utility rates are driven by cost of supplying safe, reliable utility services.   Inflation, Supply Chain, Capital Investments, required reserves are current key factors that are driving need for rate increases.
• All Electric providers are impacted by the same rising costs to provide electric services as PWC and neighboring providers have increased rates or announced upcoming increases.  With the proposed increases, PWC still remains among the lowest  compared to our neighboring electric providers.

The impact of the proposed adjustments:

• A customer using 1,000 kwh would have a $2.39 increase in May 2024 and $2.38 in May of 2025.
• Also ending in May 2025, is the Coal Ash Charge ($2 reduction for residential customers)

How rates fund reliable electric service:

• Replace aging Substations and transformers.
• Replace high voltage wooden transmission poles from wood poles to steel poles that strengthens the grid against storm damage and extends the life of the poles beyond what wood style poles allow. 
• Replace aging underground electric cable and devices, improving reliability and avoiding lengthy outages caused when underground wires/systems fail.
• Add new solar generation resources that allows PWC to gain the highest value from its Duke Energy Progress contract and provide additional renewable energy to PWC’s customers.

---

Adopted Residential Water & Wastewater Rates Effective May 1, 2026

Notes About the Proposed Water & Wastewater Basic Facility Charge Increase

• PWC’s residential water and wastewater usage charges are not increasing.
• The Basic Facility Charge is rising in small amounts over the next two years to fund operational costs and keep your services reliable.  
• The Drinking Water Basic Facility Charge will raise by $1.25 on May 1, 2025, and again raise by $1.25 on May 1, 2026. 
• The Wastewater Basic Facility Charge will raise by $2 on May 1, 2025, and again by $2 on May 1, 2026. 
• The Basic Facility Charge covers the costs of maintaining the utility system.
  • These costs are fixed and must be paid regardless of how much you use.
  • These expenses include maintaining power poles, power lines, substations, water and sewer mains, equipment, meters, billing, and staffing.
  • Each service has its own charge due to varying associated costs.
  • Charges are periodically reviewed to ensure all essential expenses are covered.
  • The Basic Facility Charge ensures that all customers contribute fairly to maintaining reliable services.