The City of Albemarle has received three Public Power Awards of Excellence from ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc.

The awards reflect public power’s strategic priorities, recognizing achievement in three areas.

The city received an award in the category of future-focused, which celebrates communities that develop a future-focused mindset. The City of Albemarle exemplified future-focused by fully funding an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system. This system will soon allow customers to monitor their daily energy usage and increase their access and visibility into their energy services. The AMI project will tie directly to the goal of improved infrastructure in the city’s Strategic Plan.

The City of Albemarle also received an award in the Strengthen Public Power category. This award celebrates communities that build public and political support for public power. The City of Albemarle was recognized for outreach efforts including lineworker visits to local schools, customer appreciation gifts during Public Power Week, utility bill stuffers and social media posts.

The third award the City of Albemarle received was in the category of People, which recognizes cities and towns that leverage their people as their greatest asset. The city was honored for its partnership with Stanly Community College to offer instruction for students in the college’s Electrical Line Worker Training Program. Throughout the 12-week program, students are instructed by City of Albemarle Electric Division staff. Students learn the critical skills of installing and repairing electrical power distribution systems.

“We’re honored to once again receive Public Power Awards of Excellence from ElectriCities. I’m grateful to all the dedicated and skilled staff who serve our community as a public power provider. These awards are the results of the work they do each day,” said Jay Voyles, Albemarle public utilities director.

“These awards demonstrate the connection the City of Albemarle has in prioritizing local needs, putting their customers first using innovative solutions that provide safe, reliable power, and leveraging their workforce to provide exceptional service to the community. I’m honored to recognize the City of Albemarle and the public power employees who put in the hard work each day to power their neighborhoods,” added ElectriCities CEO Roy Jones.

Nearly 1.3 million people in more than 70 cities and towns across North Carolina get their electricity from public power providers. Since these public power communities own their electric system, they maintain local control and decision making over their operations.