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Fayetteville, N.C.- The Fayetteville Public Works Commission has been recognized by the United Way of North Carolina with a 2025 Spirit of North Carolina Award. 

The Spirit of North Carolina Award offers United Ways in North Carolina an opportunity to honor organizations and individuals who exemplify the “spirit” of their community. Winners meet specific standards of achievement and are nominated by their local United Ways.  This is the 19th time PWC employees have earned this distinction.  Last year, PWC pledged $110,576 to the United Way of Cumberland County and had 40 Marquis givers (&1,000+).  Since 1997, PWC employees have pledged over $2.6 million dollars to fund vital non-profits in our community that actively serve residents who need it.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team for earning this recognition. This award is a testament not just to our company’s values, but to the generosity and compassion of every employee who gives their time, talent, and treasure to support our community.” said Timothy Bryant, CEO/General Manager of Fayetteville PWC. 

The 2025 Spirit Award specifically recognizes PWC as Leaders in Volunteering.  The United Way of Cumberland County provided the following narrative when nominating PWC for this award: “We have the privilege of working alongside many community-minded partners. However, few demonstrate the consistency, innovation, and heart for service that PWC brings to our community daily. PWC sets the bar for public service. Their commitment to sustainability, reliability, and community engagement doesn’t just power homes—it powers hope, opportunity, and progress. And it doesn’t stop there. PWC’s leadership utilizes a Community Advisory Group to ensure the voices of our neighbors are heard in shaping the services we all depend on. They don’t just serve our city—they listen, they innovate, and they invest in a stronger future for all of us.”

“PWC exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose, to serve with integrity, and to uplift our community every step of the way,” said Scott Embry, Executive Director/CEO of the United Way of Cumberland County.  “For decades, they have remained one of our top-giving organizations, and this award is a well-deserved reflection of their generosity, dedication, and the faith they have placed in us to serve those in need.”

The United Way of North Carolina recognized 62 Spirit of North Carolina Award winners for the year 2024, representing 17 local United Ways. These companies and organizations not only demonstrated excellence in their United Way campaign but are building a philanthropic culture community-wide.

The United Way of Cumberland County’s mission is to improve lives across Cumberland County by strategically raising and investing resources that successfully impact prioritized human service and health needs while working in effective and innovative partnerships with direct provider agencies.

The Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) has earned the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2024. PWC earned the Diamond award in the category for utilities with 250,000 to 999,999 worker-hours of annual worker exposure.

“Achieving the highest award for safety from the APPA is a testament to the dedication and hard work of every employee at PWC,” said Timothy Bryant, CEO/General Manager of Fayetteville PWC. “Promoting safety is a core value for PWC. This ensures that not only do we do the right thing in making sure our employees end the workday safely, but also helps to control costs for both the organization and for our ratepayers.”

More than 200 utilities entered the annual Safety Awards for 2024. The entries are placed in accordance with their number of worker-hours and ranked based on the most incident-free records and overall state of their safety programs and culture during 2024. The incidence rate is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2024, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Some of the initiatives PWC was recognized for to achieve this national award include:

• Maintaining a low incident rate
• Enhanced safety training and daily job safety briefings to prevent incidents from occurring
• A safety reporting system and safety audits to promote best safety practices and correct unsafe behavior before an incident occurs
• Investment in safety equipment and PPE

As a result of this commitment to safety, PWC has seen a marked reduction in workplace incidents and an overall improvement in employee confidence regarding their safety on the job.

“Harnessing electricity to keep our communities powered is vital work that can be dangerous, even deadly, if the proper attention isn’t paid to tried-and-true safety practices,” said Jon Beasley, Chair of APPA’s Safety Committee and Vice-President of Electric Cities of GA. “This award honors utilities that hold fast to these practices and – in doing so – put the safety of their personnel and their customers above all else.”

APPA has conducted the Safety Awards annually for more than sixty-six years. APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.

PWC has earned their seventh Diamond level Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) ® designation from the American Public Power Association for providing reliable and safe electric service.

The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. PWC joins more than 250 public power utilities nationwide that hold the RP3 designation.

“Receiving an RP3 designation is a great honor signifying a utility has demonstrated commitment to industry best practices,” said Jeremy Ash, Chair of APPA’s RP3 Review Panel and General Manager at Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, Kansas. “And ultimately, the culture developed from this pursuit of excellence and continued improvement through the RP3 program results in measurable value delivered to the local community.”

PWC is proud of its work delivering incredible value to our customers.  In managing a 1,400-mile distribution and transmission system comprised of 37,853 streetlights and 32 substations, as well as operating the Butler-Warner Generation plant, we ensure reliable, safe, and affordable services for a community of more than 223,000 people.

“This designation reflects the dedication and hard work of our team in ensuring safe, affordable electric services for our neighbors at a reliability rate among the best of all electric utilities in the Country,” said Timothy Bryant, CEO/General Manager of Fayetteville PWC. “We are proud to be recognized among the top public power utilities in the nation, and we will continue striving for excellence for our community.”

To learn more about PWC’s award-winning services, visit www.FayPWC.com.