This year, Pee Dee Electric joined electric cooperatives across the state as they embarked on an initiative to Power a Bright Future by providing reliable and affordable electricity while enhancing the quality of life in the communities we serve.
The first part of this initiative involves two significant carbon reduction goals: reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 based on 2005 levels, reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Pee Dee will continue prioritizing emissions-free nuclear power and natural gas generation to meet these goals while maintaining reliability and affordability.
Pee Dee’s Powering a Brighter Future initiative incorporates new innovative technologies designed to benefit our members. The investment in our Automated Meter Infrastructure system is a critical step in our innovation journey. This system not only provides data for billing purposes, but it also provides important system data that we analyze to improve the reliability of our electric distribution system.
Another great feature of the AMI system is that it alerts us when there is a power outage; in fact, we usually are aware of an outage before you call us! Quicker response results in improved reliability. This same system provides members with data through the member portal on our website and our mobile app to better understand your electricity usage. With this information, members can identify ways to use less electricity and reduce their electric bills. I strongly encourage members to use this feature.
This Brighter Future through innovation doesn’t stop there. A radical transformation is occurring in the utility industry, with advanced grid operations continuing to grow in importance. New energy resources, such as solar, battery storage, electric vehicle chargers, and microgrids are being added to the electric grid. We plan to have a solar plus battery storage system interconnected to our distribution system and a battery storage system installed at one of our substations next year. These systems provide us the opportunity to control wholesale power costs to mitigate future rate increases while making the electric grid more resilient, dynamic, flexible, and efficient.
Pee Dee Electric’s ability to successfully implement these Brighter Future initiatives is greatly enhanced by the completion of the cooperative’s new facility, which opened to members on Monday, October 18.
We are excited about this new chapter in Pee Dee Electric’s history because it is an important step in building a brighter future for our members and the areas we serve. This brighter future focuses on providing reliable electric service and quality customer service to you, our members. We will gain greater operating efficiencies by having all employees, equipment, and materials at one location. Our state-of-the-art dispatch center will give us the tools needed to better coordinate power restoration efforts and fully utilize the various advanced technologies used by the cooperative, which are designed to improve reliability and provide better service to our members.
The new facility is conveniently located at 9825 US Highway 74 East, Lilesville, N.C. Our future plans include the development of an industrial park on land purchased south of Highway 74 with the goal of improving job opportunities in our area to strengthen the communities we serve.
This significant step in the history of the cooperative strengthens our commitment to all the communities we serve as we grow and plan for a brighter energy future.
As we enter the month of December, let us take the time to pause and remember the true reason for the season. Our hope is that your holidays will be filled with hope and memorable times spent with family and friends.
Merry Christmas to all!
Donnie Spivey
CEO and Executive Vice President
