Residential Rates

The Public Works Commission has full authority to establish and change the rates that are charged for electric, water, and wastewater services within its service area. Rate schedule classifications are based, as closely as practicable, on the costs incurred by PWC in providing these services. PWC reviews rates annually and provides rate recommendations to the PWC Board. A public hearing is required ahead of the adoption of any rate changes.

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.

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Current Rates

Electric
Effective Sept. 1, 2023

Summary
Residential Service
Residential Service Additional Meter
Area Lighting Service
LED Lighting
NC Renewable Energy Rider
Buy All Sell All
Residential Service Whole Home (Super Off Peak) (Optional rate, click to learn more)
Renewable Energy Buy Back Rider
Power Supply Adjustment (PSA)
Coal Ash Fee
Community Solar Rider

Water
Effective May 1, 2023

Sewer
Effective May 1, 2023

Rates FYIs

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
PWC is currently preparing its FY24 fiscal year budget and is PWC is projecting to need an additional $34 million for the significant cost increases. Without the rate increases, reliability (rehabilitation and replacement) projects, planning for growth and preparation for new environmental regulations will be delayed.
Examples of increased costs include a 40-70% increase in the cost of chemicals to treat water and 100-200% increase in the cost of electric transformers.
Other factors in the water/sewer rate increases include: Preparation for the implementation of a Granular Activated Carbon treatment process to address PFAS/emerging contaminants and significant utility line relocations because of three major NCDOT projects in Fayetteville (Raeford Rd, Ramsey St and Camden Rd). Those costs were originally estimated to be $60 million, and it has grown to $130 million.
PWC uses a rate stabilization fund to help address drastic increases to avoid significant rate increases. PWC expects to use nearly $27 million of its electric rate stabilization fund next year, that will not cover expected expenses. PWC has received a $4.9 million ARPA grant that will go toward wastewater rehabilitation project and is continuing to pursue recovery funds.