Utility Services

Utility Services

The city of Rocky Mount operates a public utilities system with over 31,000 customers in Nash and Edgecombe counties receiving electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater (sewer), refuse, recycling and/or stormwater services. As a publicly-owned utility, the city of Rocky Mount is committed to safe, reliable service for its customers. There are many benefits of being publicly-owned, including:

  • Quick responses to outages

  • Excellent customer service

  • Employees who live in the community they serve

  • Competitive rates set by officials who live and work in the community

The city of Rocky Mount is also a nationally recognized Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) and a recipient of the Gold designation in the System Operation Achievement Recognition (SOAR) program. The RP3 award is given by the American Public Power Association (APPA) to utilities that provide the highest degree of safe and reliable electric service. The SOAR award is given by the American Public Gas Association (APGA) to natural gas utilities that demonstrate excellence in worker safety, workforce development, system integrity and system improvement.

Business Express

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Cost of Living

The city of Rocky Mount is dedicated to providing excellent public services, from public safety and parks, to utilities and public infrastructure, while maintaining minimal costs for residents and business owners. The fiscal year 2018 Cost of Public Services survey, conducted by the Office of Budget Evaluation & Development, compares Rocky Mount to 14 other North Carolina municipalities with respect to average property tax burden (city and county) and annual costs for solid waste, stormwater management, water, sewer and electricity services. This year, Rocky Mount residents enjoy average annual costs of $3,640. Click here to view the FY 2018 Comparative Cost of Living Analysis.

Reductions in the city of Rocky Mount electric utility rates and adjustments in property values due to the recent local revaluation helped reduce average household annual costs by more than $200, or 5%, compared to last fiscal year. Rocky Mount residents experience total costs for public services 16% below the overall group average of $4,312, and are the second-lowest cost of services within the sample group. Most notably, Rocky Mount's annual costs for comparable services are noticeably less than Cary ($5,104), Apex ($4,961), Wilmington ($4,773), Monroe ($4,716) and High Point ($4,587).

The Cost of Public Services survey creates an equal analysis of residential usage and tax burden based on the following conditions:

  • Application of municipal and county property tax rates on local median household value and one $25,000 vehicle

  • Electric services at 1,000 kWh/month usage

  • Water and sewer services at 3,000 gallons/month usage

  • Stormwater management, residential solid waste and recycling fees

Rocky Mount's consistent position, close to the average for the group, reflects dedication to the essential goals of service delivery and fiscal discipline.

Electric Service

The city of Rocky Mount owns and operates more than 700 miles of electric distribution lines that serve more than 27,000 residential and commercial customers in Nash and Edgecombe counties.

The city of Rocky Mount is a member of the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA). NCEMPA consists of 32 cities and towns in eastern North Carolina that own and operate their electric systems and serve nearly 270,000 retail customers.

NCEMPA has a wholesale power supply agreement with Duke Energy Progress to meet the power needs of its 32 members. The city of Rocky Mount pays NCEMPA for the city's monthly wholesale power purchases. The cost of power from NCEMPA for fiscal year 2016 was approximately $53 million.

Electric Reliability

View the Electric Reliability page.

Key Accounts Program

The mission statement of the city of Rocky Mount is to provide excellent customer service, excellent public service and to be innovative. The city's goal has always been to provide the highest quality of service to customers. Therefore, in 1998 the Key Accounts Program was established to address the specific needs of the city's largest customers. Since its establishment, the mission of the city's Key Accounts Program is not only to meet customer needs but also to establish a communication network between the city and its key customers in order to improve their satisfaction and profitability.

The Key Accounts Program provides a single point of contact for the city's large commercial and industrial customers. Services offered through the Key Accounts Program include energy audits, annual infrared scanning and enrollment in the monthly Questline newsletter. For information about load management and peak-shaving opportunities, please contact the Energy Resources Communications Coordinator at (252) 972-1269.

Load Management

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Natural Gas Service

The city of Rocky Mount owns and operates more than 500 miles of natural gas distribution lines that serve more than 17,000 residential and commercial customers in Nash and Edgecombe counties.

The city of Rocky Mount purchases natural gas on the open market each month. In addition to paying for the cost of the gas, the city pays to have it transported from production areas to the city's system via interstate and intrastate pipelines. Natural gas is a commodity traded on the open market. Market factors determine the wholesale price of natural gas.

The city utilizes the services of Texican Horizon Energy Marketing, an affiliate of Texican Natural Gas Company, to coordinate the business of bringing natural gas from the wellhead to the end-user. This includes ensuring secure supplies in the market and arranging transportation, storage, accounting and any other steps necessary to facilitate the sale of natural gas.

Utility Rates and Fees

The city of Rocky Mount offers competitive rates for commercial and industrial customers. For more information about available rates based on the energy usage of your business, please contact the Energy Resources Communications Coordinator at (252) 972-1269 or click here.

Service Territory

City of Rocky Mount services are located in Nash and Edgecombe counties. Click below to see available service territory maps.

Electric Service Map (PDF, 1MB)

Natural Gas Service Map (PDF, 3MB)

Recycling Service Map