Cherokee County delivers reliable, cost-competitive utility infrastructure built for industry. With multiple electric providers, robust water capacity, and proven service to hundreds of commercial and industrial accounts.
Competitive coverage across the county
Gaffney Board of Public Works
20,000+ member-owners served
Cherokee County has three primary electric providers that each share territory within the county boundaries — offering competitive rates, reliable infrastructure, and dedicated economic development support.
Portions of Cherokee County receive electricity from The Board of Public Works. The reliability of the system has proven to be superior to local competitors due to a comprehensive preventative maintenance program and year round right-of-way maintenance program. The Board provides electricity to nearly 7,300 customers through approximately 130 miles of lines. Wholesale power from Piedmont Municipal Power Agency is supplied through three delivery points one of which is owned by the Board. Piedmont Municipal Power Agency is a joint action agency in which Gaffney, along with 9 other upstate cities, is a member. The agency owns 25% of the Catawba Nuclear Plant. Service requests generally have a same day or next day turn around. The electrical department is able to offer comprehensive lighting packages to area businesses and industries — financing the project up front, providing all equipment, maintenance, and energy for a set monthly fee.
Duke Energy serves approximately 2.4 million customers across 24,000 square miles in North Carolina and South Carolina including a large section of Cherokee County. Duke's utility rates are some of the lowest in the nation: 20%–30% below the U.S. national average. The Duke Energy Economic Development team is divided into three departments — Economic Development, Business Development, and Territorial Strategies — to better serve specific business, economic development, and site selection needs. Services include industrial building searches, greenfield/brownfield site screening, demographic data, GIS maps, and full site visit coordination.
Duke Energy serves approximately 2.4 million customers across 24,000 square miles in North Carolina and South Carolina including a large section of Cherokee County. Duke's utility rates are some of the lowest in the nation: 20%–30% below the U.S. national average. The Duke Energy Economic Development team is divided into three departments — Economic Development, Business Development, and Territorial Strategies — to better serve specific business, economic development, and site selection needs. Services include industrial building searches, greenfield/brownfield site screening, demographic data, GIS maps, and full site visit coordination.
High-speed internet, voice, wireless, and data solutions from leading providers serving Cherokee County businesses.
At Charter Business, we help businesses achieve better results by delivering reliable Internet, Ethernet, Phone and Enhancement solutions. We offer a wide range of products — from high-quality broadband services to phone systems and top-tier digital TV and Music — that are flexible and can meet the demands of growing businesses.
Cherokee County business communications services are provided by AT&T. AT&T offers solutions in key areas such as voice, broadband Internet, messaging, wireless and advertising, as well as the expertise to assist small businesses, which often have minimal in-house communications and IT support.
Natural gas providers in Cherokee County include York County Natural Gas and Piedmont Natural Gas. York County Natural Gas provides service to all parcels north of the Broad River, while Piedmont Natural Gas services all parcels south of the Broad River. For additional information on natural gas service availability, contact the Cherokee County Development Board office.
Piedmont Natural Gas is an energy services company primarily engaged in the distribution of natural gas to one million residential, commercial and industrial utility customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, including 62,000 customers served by municipalities who are wholesale customers. Subsidiaries are invested in joint venture, energy-related businesses including unregulated retail natural gas marketing, interstate natural gas storage and intrastate natural gas transportation.
For over 50 years York County Natural Gas Authority (YCNGA) has provided residential, commercial and industrial gas service throughout York County, South Carolina. In April of 2010 YCNGA added another gas system which was purchased from the Town of Blacksburg. York County Natural Gas provides service to all parcels north of the Broad River, while Piedmont Natural Gas services all parcels south of the Broad River.
The Board’s water division serves approximately 9,500 residential, commercial, and industrial customers. A raw water pump station on the Broad River pumps to our primary source, Lake Whelchel, or directly into the Victor Gaffney and Cherokee Water Treatment Plants. This assures an adequate water supply well into the next century. The Board has a total treatment capacity of 18 million gallons of water per day. In addition to over 200 miles of water lines, the Board has four above ground storage tanks, including the Peachoid, and 2 million gallons of ground level storage.
Ground Level Storage
200+ mi
Customers Served
Daily Treatment Capacity
The wastewater treatment division provides sanitary sewer services to approximately 6,850 customers in and around Gaffney. The Board operates two wastewater treatment plants. The Clary Plant can treat 3.6 million gallons per day; and the Broad River Plant treats 4 million gallons per day. In addition to these plants, the Board has installed and maintains over 130 miles of sewer lines.
