North Carolina Rural Electrification Authority

NCREA and its Board make decisions for loan and grant requests from North Carolina EMC and TMC cooperatives for funds from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Funds are used to:

• Provide safe and reliable service to the members
• Promote the deployment of broadband and economic development in NC
• Create jobs for the residents of our State

In 2023, the NCREA and its Board approved eighteen loan and grant requests for USDA funds totaling $190 million which will be used to update facilities for the coops, purchase emergency equipment and for economic development in rural areas and approved one application for funds from the USDA ReConnect program in the amount of $24.9 million which is for the deployment of broadband in rural areas of the State.

NCREA was created as an agency of the State of North Carolina to:

1. Ensure that customers in the predominantly rural areas of the state have access to adequate, dependable, and affordable electric and telephone service.
2. The NCREA serves as an agent for the EMC and TMC cooperatives in securing and approving loan and grant requests from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as follows:
   • Rural Utility Service (RUS)
   • Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants (REDLG)
   • Reconnect, Community Connect, Cares Act and
   • Rural Energy America Program (REAP) 
3. Oversee the application of the electric and telephone cooperatives rules and regulations to ensure they are administered according to the manner in which they are written.
4. Receive and investigate member complaints of the cooperatives.
5. Advise cooperatives regarding recommended changes in rules and regulations.
6. The NCREA is responsible for receiving petitions for arbitration in compliance with the 1996 Telecommunications Act (The Act).
7. Perform all other requirements of the North Carolina Rural Electrification Laws as documented in Chapter 117 of the North Carolina General Statutes.