Energy Security
Energy security is the state’s ability to support a reliable, affordable, and resilient supply of energy to its customers, while mitigating various risks including extreme weather, aging/failing infrastructure, supply chain disruptions, and cyber-attacks, through a balanced mix of local generation, diversified fuel sources, and advanced grid technologies.
North Carolina’s energy system underpins the state’s economy, health and safety infrastructure. Utilities, including investor-owned utilities, university-owned utilities, electric membership corporations and municipally owned electric utilities, provide power across NC. These entities manage complex supply chains and infrastructure to generate, transmit, and distribute energy. Minimizing and preventing disruptions and negative impacts to this complex system is paramount for NC to continue to thrive.
Energy Security Plan
The State Energy Office comprehensively updated the Draft North Carolina Energy Security Plan to align with federal mandates outlined in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which directed states to develop robust ESPs to enhance energy resilience and security.
The plan assesses key threats, vulnerabilities, consequences and risks the state’s energy system faces, including severe weather, cybersecurity, aging infrastructure, supply interdependencies and physical attacks, among other hazards. The plan also provides mitigation strategies and recommendations to minimize risk, such as deploying microgrids, strengthening infrastructure, adopting cybersecurity protocols, diversifying generation resources and installing grid-enhancing technology. It also outlines the coordination and response effort to energy emergencies. The recommended strategies aim to bolster the resilience and reliability of the energy system, while minimizing energy disruptions and related impacts.
The intended audience of the ESP is the entities engaged in energy planning, generation, distribution, emergency response, and those with a stake in a secure energy future for NC including, NC utilities, state and local government leaders, and emergency responders.
DEQ’s objective is to align these entities around a set of priorities to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions and withstand, respond to, and recover rapidly from power disruptions through adaptable and holistic planning and technical solutions.
DEQ is accepting public input on the 2025 Draft North Carolina Energy Security Plan now through July 14, 2025. Public input will be accepted until July 14, 2025. Input can be emailed to seo.publiccomments@deq.nc.gov with “2025 NC Energy Security Plan” in the subject line.