As part of our continued commitment to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power to our members, Edgecombe-Martin County EMC is investing in an important infrastructure project — the rebuilding of our Mayo-Dunbar Substation. This project has been in the planning stages for quite some time, and over the past several months, we’ve begun taking major steps toward making it a reality.
The current Mayo-Dunbar Substation has served our members well for many years, but its location has presented growing challenges. Situated in a low-lying area, the site has become increasingly prone to flooding — a risk that can threaten essential equipment and disrupt service. With reliability as one of our top priorities, we made the decision to relocate the substation to higher ground located just behind the existing site. This move will help protect critical infrastructure from flood damage and ensure that our system remains strong and dependable, even during severe weather events.
Substations like Mayo-Dunbar are the heart of our distribution system. They contain protective devices, voltage regulators, and transformers that step down electricity from high-voltage transmission lines to levels that can safely power homes, farms, and businesses. Every improvement we make at this level of our system has a direct impact on how efficiently and reliably power reaches our members.
Beyond simply replacing what’s already there, this new substation will also increase our system’s capacity and strengthen our ability to meet the area’s growing energy needs. As new development and industrial growth continue across our service territory, the demand for reliable electricity grows right along with it. One upcoming project, a new natural gas pumping station being built by Piedmont Natural Gas, will be served by this upgraded facility. By planning ahead and designing the substation to carry additional load, we’re making sure our system remains equipped to support both current members and future growth.
Projects like this don’t happen overnight. They require careful planning, coordination, and investment — all guided by our cooperative principles and our responsibility to you, our members. Relocating and rebuilding this substation represents another step forward in our long-term strategy to modernize our electric system, improve reliability, and prepare for the future.
At Edgecombe-Martin County EMC, we take great pride in being your local energy partner. Every upgrade we make is done with your best interest in mind, ensuring that our system remains strong, resilient, and ready to meet the needs of our communities for generations to come.
Cooperatively,
Mike Johnson