When temperatures drop, it takes more energy to heat your home. The more difference there is between the temperature outside and the thermostat setting inside, the harder your heating system will work and the more energy it will use, even if you don’t turn the thermostat higher. Homes that don’t have enough insulation, homes with single-paned or aluminum-framed windows, and homes with a lot of air leaks around windows, doors, and plumbing & electrical boxes add more stress to your HVAC (heat pump). Mark Brown (Sr. Customer Programs Officer) joined us in "The Bucket" to explain how colder weather impacts energy costs and shared some advice on maintaining control of your usage. 

Our 1st episode of 2021 is with the newly appointed PWC CEO/General Manager Elaina Ball. In this fun episode, we welcome Elaina to “The Bucket” and discuss her transition from Texas, her career journey in utilities, and why PWC was good fit. We also talk about some of Elaina’s early community involvement with the Fayetteville Running Club, encouraging employees to be smart and safe during the pandemic, and she shares an absolutely “electric” story about Matthew McConaughey!

After nearly 11 years at PWC and a total of 40 years in the utility industry, CEO / General Manager David Trego is retiring on Dec. 31st.  Trego joined us in "The Bucket" for the 1st episode of the podcast and fittingly he joins us again to say farewell. In this conversation, Trego reflects on his career, notable accomplishments while at PWC, and his thoughts on the incoming CEO / General Manager. Also hear on what he has planned for the next chapter of life. Click Play and Get Connected!

When the occasional electric outage occurs, PWC has a restoration plan to provide the fastest response possible. Certain work and repairs have different time requirements and equipment needs to safely restore service. PWC is introducing our Outage Management System (OMS) and an Electric Outage Map to provide a big assist in the restoration process. Andre Couture (Corporate Development) jumped in "The Bucket" to discuss his role with PWC and share details of the system from the project manager perspective. Hear details about the system in this episode and learn how to SIGN UP for outage notifications. 

PWC is a proud, chartering member of the Partnership for Safe Water; which was developed jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency, American Water Works Association, utilities, and other water organizations. The Partnership strengthens the relationship of the government, utilities, and water organizations to continue working together to ensure the quality of public drinking water. In 2000, PWC was the 1st to receive this award in North Carolina and has earned the Director’s Award again this year. The Director's Award has been maintained by PWC for 20 years, an honor achieved by less than 200 water utilities across the country.  Chris Smith, PWC Water Resources Treatment Facility Manager, sat down with us in "The Bucket" to discuss the award and how PWC meets or exceeds current regulatory practices.  

Before the holidays arrive and we close out the year, Your Hometown Utility wanted to be sure to share and discuss some helpful customer tidbits. So in this edition, hosts (Courtney and Lamont) chat about Time-of-Use Winter Peak, Community Solar, new Customer Call Center hours, 2021 Connected to Conservation Calendars, the new CEO and more. This is a good ole conversation of good information. Get connected!

PWC offers incentive programs to our residential and commercial customers to encourage efficient, cost-effective utility usage. Whether it's an energy-efficient washing machine, clothes dryer, dishwasher, or refrigerator (or all four), PWC has a helpful incentive program for our customers to save on their bill. Maureen O'Connor from our Customer Programs Department joined us in "The Bucket" to give the scoop on the incentive programs currently in place and what's coming in the future. For more information on PWC Incentive Programs, visit our website today!

October is Energy Awareness Month, an opportunity to promote the importance of energy for our sustainability and environmental well-being. Chad Groves from our Customer Programs Department joined us in "The Bucket" to discuss on conservation tips, thoughts on ENERGY STAR appliances, and common inefficient habits that usually drive your energy costs up! Tune in for some insight and "awareness" on energy use.

The microphone stayed LIVE and the conversation continued with Portia Daniels (Information Technology) and Zach Hall (Electrical Engineering) on the experience of working at PWC. With the recognition from Business North Carolina as one of the Best Employers in NC for 2020, we decided to share our thoughts and opinions on PWC as an employees. Join us briefly in "The Bucket", because what you hear may definitely surprise you.

We kept the conversation with PWC Electric Field Supervisor Britten O'Quinn and 2nd Class Lineman Marshall Jackson going a little longer after our episode about storm prep tips and safety. Listen to some "hot mic" dialogue on what it's Really like being in the field.