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Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA)

This Web site is hosted by the North Carolina Association of Electrical Cooperatives (NCAEC) on behalf of the following electric membership corporations:

   Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation    
   Carteret-Craven Electric Membership Corporation    
   Edgecombe-Martin County Electric Membership Corporation    
   EnergyUnited    
   Four County Electric Membership Corporation    
   French Broad Electric Membership Corporation    
   Jones-Onslow Electric Membership Corporation    
   Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation    
   Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation    
   Randolph Electric Membership Corporation    
   Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation    
   South River Electric Membership Corporation    
   Union Power Cooperative    
   Wake Electric Membership Corporation

This Web site is designed to facilitate compliance activities conducted by NCAEC on behalf of its listed members in connection with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Among the many provisions of this federal legislation were four proposed standards having to do with energy conservation and consumer-driven rate management. These proposals were included as amendments to the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). The four proposed standards include:
(1) Integrated Resource Planning; (2) Rate Design Modifications to Promote Energy Efficiency Investments; (3) Consideration of Smart Grid Investments; and (4) Smart Grid Information.

Not all of North Carolina’s electric membership corporations (EMCs) are covered by the new legislation. Those that are covered are not required to adopt any of these standards; rather, they must consider whether or not to implement them. Each EMC, through its board of directors, will consider if these proposed standards are in the best interests of their members, based in part on input received from members and the general public. Please note that the procedure for receiving comments is a formal process. It is being managed on behalf of the listed EMCs by their statewide trade association, NC Association of Electric Cooperatives.

More information about the process and the new PURPA standards is available by mail [ATTN: PURPA Coordinator, P.O. Box 27306, Raleigh, NC 27611-7306], or by email at purpa@ncemcs.com.

A public notice, previously issued by NCAEC, is attached to assist you in understanding the background and nature of the process:
Public Notice [download PDF]

Initial Comments of Electric Membership Corporations

Click here to read the initial comments submitted by NCAEC on behalf of 14 North Carolina EMCs.