Go to the homepage for the Sylva Herald and Ruralite

Electric company to change name from NP&L to Duke Power
Volunteers

Electric customers are seeing both NP&L and Duke Power on vehicles these days. And linemen like Gerald Parks are wearing Duke Power protective clothing. These changes reflect Nantahala Power & Light Co.'s transition into a part of Duke Power, which has owned NP&L since 1988. NP&L is now Duke Power, Nantahala Area.

 Nantahala Power & Light Co., the electric utility that has provided power to most of Jackson County for more than 70 years, will soon cease to exist.

The local power company will become "Duke Power, Nantahala Area," said Fred Alexander, district manager.

Electric rates will not change as a result of NP&L becoming Duke Power, Alexander said, and the change will not alter the company's commitment to reliable electric service at reasonable rates.

"Since Duke Power bought NP&L in 1988, customers have asked 'When are they going to put Duke Power on the trucks?' The answer is now," said Alexander. "And you'll see employees with 'Duke Power' on their clothing, too." Buildings, vehicle signs and the logo on bills will change as well.

"Of course the most important things will not change. Our commitment to customers remains a priority," Alexander said. "Customers will still see us extending service to new homes and businesses, making repairs after storms, and involved in the communities where we live."

Nantahala became a division of Duke three years ago, and this is the final step in integrating operations with Duke, Alexander said.

"This is a logical milestone in our 71-year history since NP&L itself assimilated five other electric utilities," he said. "Our organization continues to evolve, reflecting changes in the electric industry nationwide. Moving NP&L operations fully into Duke Power will enable us to offer improved efficiencies and services through new technologies.

"Some form of electric deregulation is already in place in 23 states and the N.C. Legislature is considering the topic. Therefore, it is prudent to create a more flexible organization," said Alexander.

After purchasing NP&L from Alcoa in 1988, Duke built a 30-mile transmission line to connect the two systems. This greatly improved the reliability of the NP&L electrical system, Alexander said. Under Duke's ownership, NP&L invested more than $100 million to improve customer service. Duke also provided hundreds of employees and specialized vehicles to help NP&L rebound from its most devastating storms, the blizzard of 1993 and Hurricane Opal in 1995.

With 175 employees, Duke Power serves about 60,000 customers in the 1,729-square-mile Nantahala Area that includes Jackson, Cherokee, Graham, Macon and Swain counties.

Duke Power, a business unit of Duke Energy, is one of the nation's largest electric utilities. It provides electricity to approximately 2 million customers in North Carolina and South Carolina. Duke Power operates three nuclear generating stations, eight coal-fired stations, 31 hydroelectric stations and numerous combustion turbine units for a total system capability of 19,290 megawatts.

Additional information about Duke Power is available on the Internet at www.dukepower.com.

Back to Archive: 12/14/00.