Public Works Commission

What Public Works Commission does

Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) is a community-owned, not-for-profit municipal utility, founded in 1905 and governed by the PWC Commission under the City of Fayetteville, that delivers integrated electric distribution, water treatment and distribution, and wastewater collection services across the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County, North Carolina. As of June 30, 2024, PWC served 93,522 customers (86,305 residential, 7,186 non-residential, 19 large users, and 12 wholesale customers) and a population exceeding 225,000, supported by two water treatment facilities — P.O. Hoffer (39.5 MGD, built 1969) and Glenville Lake (18 MGD, built 1942) — for a combined 58 MGD capacity. The operating technology stack combines advanced multi-stage treatment (chloramination disinfection, zinc-orthophosphate corrosion control, ferric sulfate coagulation, and forthcoming Granular Activated Carbon for PFAS removal) with smart-grid and customer-facing tooling, including Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), a SCADA upgrade at Glenville Lake, a real-time electric outage map with 10-minute refresh, and a mobile app/ePortal customer platform. The business model is regulated subscription-based utility billing: monthly recurring service charges plus volumetric consumption-based rates for residential customers, separate C&I rate structures (including time-of-use options) for commercial and industrial customers, and wholesale rates for 12 large municipal customers. Distribution is direct-to-consumer and geographically bounded by the municipal franchise; ancillary revenue lines include commercial grease trap service, developer fees (including a $20 service-transfer fee), and emerging offerings such as the Drive EV charging program, Community Solar Farm, and conservation programs (Tree Power, TempTracker 365, Water Wise Demo Garden). PWC is funded through customer rates and municipal bonds, not through venture or private equity, and has earned the APPA RP3 Diamond Level designation seven times (one of only three U.S. utilities to do so) and the Partnership for Safe Water Director's Award for 25 consecutive years.

Name

Public Works Commission

Legal name

Fayetteville Public Works Commission

Website

https://faypwc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Fayetteville Public Works Commission is a community-owned, not-for-profit municipal utility providing electric, water, and wastewater services to 93,522 customers (population exceeding 225,000) across Fayetteville and Cumberland County, North Carolina, through two water treatment facilities with 58 MGD combined capacity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fayetteville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Residential Electric Service: Electric distribution service to residential customers including fixed charges and consumption-based rates.
2. Residential Water Service: Water distribution service to residential customers with base charges and volumetric rates.
3. Residential Wastewater/Sewer Service: Wastewater collection service to residential customers.
4. Commercial & Industrial Electric Service: Electric distribution service with commercial rates, C&I rates, time-of-use options for non-residential customers.
5. Commercial & Industrial Water Service: Water distribution service with commercial irrigation meters and non-residential rates.
6. Commercial Grease Trap Services: Commercial grease trap maintenance and monitoring services for food service businesses.
7. Wholesale Water Service: Wholesale water rates for 12 large user wholesale customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

Public Works Commission (PWC) is a community-owned, not-for-profit municipal utility providing electric distribution, water treatment and distribution, and wastewater collection services to approximately 93,522 customers across Fayetteville and Cumberland County, North Carolina. The utility operates two water treatment facilities (P.O. Hoffer at 39.5 MGD and Glenville Lake at 18 MGD) and delivers power through its own distribution infrastructure serving a population of more than 225,000.

Product overview

Fayetteville Public Works Commission is a community-owned, not-for-profit municipal utility providing integrated electric, water, and wastewater services to approximately 93,522 customers in the Fayetteville, NC area. The utility operates as a single integrated platform with three core service lines (electric, water, sewer) supported by digital customer-facing tools including the PWC Mobile App, Online Account Manager, Electric Outage Map, and various conservation programs. The product portfolio centers on essential infrastructure services delivered through traditional utility operations enhanced with customer self-service technologies. Key programs include the RP3 reliability certification, Operation Clean & Clear lead pipe identification, Storm Preparation Guide, and various conservation initiatives (Tree Power, Drive EV, Solar Options, Water Conservation). The utility also operates two water treatment facilities (P.O. Hoffer and Glenville Lake) with advanced treatment capabilities including chloramination, Granular Activated Carbon for PFAS removal, and corrosion control systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Service Municipal electric distribution service delivering power to residential, commercial, industrial, and wholesale customers in the Fayetteville, NC service territory, supported by outage management, storm restoration, and reliability programs.
• Water Service Municipal potable water service providing treated drinking water to approximately 93,522 customers through two treatment facilities with combined 58 MGD capacity, including source water protection, treatment, distribution, and water quality monitoring.
• Wastewater/Sewer Service Wastewater collection service including sanitary sewer main rehabilitation, grease trap management for food service businesses, and pollution prevention programs for residential and commercial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Diamond Level RP3 designation for 7 consecutive times - only 3 utilities nationwide achieved this
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 120WatercoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Partnership with 120Water for water service line inventory database and interactive mapping as part of Operation Clean & Clear lead service line identification program. 120Water collects customer survey data and maintains searchable interactive map for compliance with federal Lead and Copper Rule requirements.
• McKim & CreedcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor performing site survey digs using vacuum truck excavation at select locations across PWC service area. Crews excavate two holes 12-18 inches in diameter on either side of water main to document pipe materials and restore dig sites.
• NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ)Strategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory partnership for water quality monitoring, PFAS standards, 1,4-Dioxane regulation, and Source Water Assessment Program. PWC advocates with NCDEQ to reduce industrial pollution in Cape Fear River.
• Partnership for Safe WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership program for safe drinking water optimization. PWC is charter member and has maintained Director's Award for 25 consecutive years at both treatment facilities.
• City of GreensborominorOthersUpstream municipality whose T.Z. Osborne wastewater treatment plant discharges into Cape Fear River. PWC advocacy led to state imposing lower limits on 1,4-Dioxane discharge, sharper penalties, and increased sampling requirements.
• City of AsheborominorOthersUpstream municipality whose wastewater treatment plant discharged elevated 1,4-Dioxane levels. NCDEQ required monthly monitoring at discharge site. 85-mile distance to PWC intake with dilution effect kept levels below EPA health advisory.
• Cape Fear River AssemblyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional watershed protection organization. PWC participates in J.W. Pate Award recognition for watershed contributions (Chad Ham 2016, Steve Blaha).
• NC Division of Environmental QualitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 1,4-Dioxane monitoring and PFAS regulation. PWC funded research identifying contamination sources. NCDEQ requires upstream municipalities to monitor monthly for emerging contaminants.
• Fayetteville/Cumberland County Economic Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partnership supporting commercial and industrial growth in the region through utility infrastructure and economic development rates.
• Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for utility workforce training including FTCC Lineworker Basic Training Course and FTCC Water/Sewer Construction School. Addresses workforce development and pipeline for utility careers.
• City of FayettevillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent municipality. PWC is a separate public works commission providing services to the City and surrounding Cumberland County. Partnership for annexation, emergency management, and municipal services.
• Cumberland CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partnership for water service to Gray's Creek area and county-wide utility services. Joint initiatives for economic development.
• ElectriCities of North CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for public power utilities. PWC participates in Mutual Aid Program, receives Public Power Award of Excellence recognitions, and engages in industry best practices sharing.
• American Public Power Association (APPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational trade association for public power utilities. PWC participates in RP3 designation program, Research and Development (DEED) Program, and receives national recognition through RP3 Diamond Level designations.
• MetroNetminorOthersFiber optic construction partnership in Fayetteville area. Separate utility infrastructure project providing potential coordination opportunities.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JEA: JEA (formerly Jacksonville Electric Authority) is a community-owned municipal utility providing electric, water, and wastewater services to Jacksonville, FL. Direct peer in structure (multi-utility municipal), customer base (residential + commercial + industrial + wholesale), and revenue model (regulated rates, subscription billing).
• Orlando Utilities Commission: OUC is a municipal utility providing electric, water, wastewater, and chilled water services to Orlando, FL. Direct peer in multi-utility municipal structure, customer segmentation, and community-owned ownership model comparable to PWC.
• Greenville Utilities Commission: Greenville Utilities Commission is a North Carolina municipal utility providing electric, water, wastewater, and natural gas services to Greenville, NC. Direct peer in geography (NC public power), structure (community-owned commission), and service mix (electric + water + wastewater).
• Santee Cooper: South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper) is a state-owned public power utility providing generation, transmission, and distribution. Direct peer as a publicly-owned electric utility with regulated rate structure and infrastructure focus similar to PWC's electric distribution operations.
• CPS Energy: CPS Energy is the largest municipally-owned energy company in the US, providing electric and natural gas service to San Antonio, TX. Direct peer as a large community-owned multi-service utility with comparable operational scale and customer-facing digital transformation programs.
• Austin Energy: Austin Energy is a municipally-owned electric utility serving Austin, TX, with associated water/wastewater operations through Austin Water. Direct peer as a public power utility with strong renewable energy programs (similar to PWC's solar options and Tree Power programs) and customer service innovation focus.
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District: SMUD is a community-owned, not-for-profit electric utility serving Sacramento, CA. Direct peer as a public power utility with comparable APPA RP3 designation history, customer service focus, and renewable/energy efficiency programs paralleling PWC's Smart Energy Provider award.

Broad incumbents

• Duke Energy: Duke Energy is the largest investor-owned electric utility in North Carolina, serving the broader region surrounding Fayetteville. Broad incumbent providing electric generation, transmission, and distribution across overlapping North Carolina territory and competing for large commercial/industrial load.

Regional players

• Charlotte Water: Charlotte Water is the water and wastewater utility for the City of Charlotte, NC, operating as a department of the municipal government. Regional peer serving another North Carolina metropolitan area with comparable water/wastewater treatment responsibilities and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act compliance obligations.
• Raleigh Water: Raleigh Water (formerly Public Utilities) is the water and wastewater utility serving Raleigh, NC, part of the City of Raleigh. Regional peer in the same state operating comparable water treatment, distribution, and wastewater collection infrastructure for a similar North Carolina population base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FAYPWC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FAYPWC
• Facebookfacebook.com/faypwc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/public-works-commission
• Instagraminstagram.com/faypwc
• Pinterestpinterest.com/fayettevillepwc

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Public Works Commission