At Wilson Energy, we’re committed to delivering reliable, affordable electricity to our community — but where does that power come from?

Our Partnership for Reliable Power

Wilson Energy is part of the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA) — a non-profit group made up of 32 eastern North Carolina cities, including Wilson, Rocky Mount, Greenville, and Clayton. Together, we work to provide stable, long-term power solutions for our region.

Through this partnership, Wilson Energy purchases its electricity from Duke Energy Progress, the largest investor-owned utility in the country.

Energy Sources

Much of the energy we use comes from clean, efficient nuclear generation. NCEMPA’s power supply includes energy from two major plants:

• Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant near Raleigh
• Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant near Wilmington

These facilities use nuclear fission to create heat, which generates steam that spins turbines to produce electricity — a highly reliable method with virtually no carbon emissions.

How Power Reaches Your Home

1. Transmission Lines
   The electricity enters Wilson via large transmission lines. These high-voltage lines (around 115,000 volts) carry electricity from the power plants to Wilson. 
2. City Substations
   From there, to one of the City's substations. At these key hubs, voltage is reduced to between 12,470 and 25,000 volts — making it safe for neighborhood distribution.
3. Neighborhood Transformers
   The energy then travels to your neighborhood where the voltage is reduced again at a transformer. You might spot one of these nearby — either in a green box at ground level or mounted on a pole. These transformers bring the voltage down again, usually to 120–240 volts.

This is the power that runs your home:

• 120 volts: For everyday appliances like lights, TVs, and refrigerators
• 240 volts: For high-use appliances like clothes dryers and air conditioners

⚠️ Safety Tip: Stay away from transformers and electrical equipment — they may look ordinary, but they carry high-voltage electricity.