Electric Department

The first use of electricity in Caldwell County happened in Granite Falls on December 5th, 1888. Dignitaries in Granite Falls threw the switch less than ten years after Thomas Alva Edison invented the first incandescent electric light bulb. Thus, Granite Falls led the way into the future for this area! It would be seventeen years (1906) before another part of the county would have electricity.

Our goal is to provide a reliable power supply to our customers at stable and competitive rates. Our customer service and reliability are second to none with all of the electric department personnel within minutes of our offices. You will not wait hours for an electric employee to respond to the reported emergency.

In 2022, the Town’s Average Service Availability Index, through the American Public Power Association, indicated that electric service was provided on average of 99.9651% of the time to all electric customers. In addition to being a reliable public power provider, the Town of Granite Falls is one of the most environmentally friendly power providers in the State of North Carolina. In 2021, 98.43% of all electricity delivered to the Town of Granite Falls’ electric customers came from sources that emitted no CO2 (carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere. According to information provided by ElectriCities of North Carolina, 96.91% of Granite Falls’ power came from nuclear energy, 1.51% came from hydroelectric sources, and .01% came from solar sources for a total of 98.43% of power sourced from “clean” power providers.

Call before you dig: Electric power lines, natural gas pipelines, communications lines, and other utility services could be within a few feet of the surface. For homeowners, excavating in your yard poses some risk. Digging into an underground electric line can cause power outages and personal injury from shock or electrocution. We urge you to call the North Carolina One-Call Center at 1.800.632.4949 Or 811.

Areas surrounding pad-mounted transformers must be kept clear so that workers can safely maintain transformers as needed. Keep shrubs and structures at least 6 feet away from the transformer in all directions. Never touch, climb or play on pad-mounted transformers. Never put fingers, sticks, or other objects through cracks in the transformer. Never dig near a pad-mounted transformer. Since these are surrounded by underground cables, hitting the cable could result in a service disruption, electrical shock, or death. Always dial 8-1-1 before you dig. Report problems immediately. If you notice any damage to the transformer or see a transformer that is unlocked, please call 828-396-3131 immediately.

TOWN OF GRANITE FALLS IMPLEMENTS STAGE 2 MANDATORY WATER REDUCTIONS TO PROTECT LOCAL WATER SUPPLY

GRANITE FALLS, NORTH CAROLINA – Due to continued dry conditions across the region and declining water supply indicators, the Town of Granite Falls has implemented Stage 2: Mandatory Water Reductions under its Water Shortage Response Plan.

This action follows regional drought conditions identified within the Catawba-Wateree River Basin, where Stage 2 drought conditions require immediate conservation efforts to protect shared water resources and preserve drinking water availability.

Stage 2 conditions indicate that water supply levels are significantly below seasonal norms and that prolonged shortages are possible without immediate reductions in water use.

Town officials are urging all residents, businesses, and institutions to take immediate action to reduce nonessential water use.

Under Stage 2, the following restrictions are required for all Granite Falls water customers:

· No lawn watering or irrigation is permitted

· Watering of shrubs, trees, and flowers is limited to:

o 7:00–9:00 a.m. and 7:00–9:00 p.m.

o Hand-held hoses with automatic shutoff nozzles only

· Washing of driveways, sidewalks, and exterior surfaces is prohibited, except when necessary and approved

· Restaurants may only serve water upon customer request

· Filling of swimming pools is restricted to Wednesdays and Saturdays and requires a permit

· All customers must eliminate unnecessary water use, including commercial and industrial operations

These restrictions build upon previously encouraged conservation measures, which are now mandatory and enforceable.