Grid Security and Resilience

Jon T. Locklear, Lumbee River EMC President & CEO

After gunshots at two electrical substations cut power to thousands of central North Carolina homes for several days in early December, leaving tens of thousands without power amid freezing temperatures, I am sure our members want to know what steps Lumbee River EMC is taking to secure and protect our 31 substations from acts of terrorism.

Securing and protecting the grid is a top priority for Lumbee River EMC. LREMC incorporates multiple layers of security across our systems to protect critical infrastructure. Fences enclose our substations to limit access to qualified personnel only. We use video surveillance systems to monitor our substations 24/7. We are installing more cameras and upgrading the technology at each site.

Lineworker Appreciation Day on April 10

LREMC joins other electric cooperatives across our state and nation to recognize them and say thank you for your service.

Lineworker Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on April 10 and honors the people who keep our power up and running. Lineworker Appreciation Day is a time to express our utmost appreciation to the great men and women working hard for us daily. This day recognizes lineworkers' critical role in providing our members with power.

A lineworker performs various duties that keep power lines up and

Staying ahead of rising challenges is a collaborative effort. LREMC works alongside industry partners, peer organizations, government agencies, and local officials to share information and strengthen our systems. Amid the surge in attacks on U.S. substations, we pressed Lawmakers to strengthen legislation to secure the state’s critical infrastructure. Our efforts have resulted in harsher penalties, longer prison sentences, and higher fines. If an attack occurs, we will prosecute criminals to the full extent of the law.

Our co-op has contingency plans, so no one gets left in the dark. LREMC and cooperatives across the state are applying innovative technologies to improve grid resilience and reliability for members. These innovative energy solutions include thirteen solar and

Jon T. Locklear

storage sites, ten utility-scale battery energy storage projects, and five microgrids designed to enhance grid resilience and reliability in rural North Carolina communities. We can shift load from substations if another substation were to go down. We also have a portable substation at our disposal.

Our leadership team has an emergency response plan for various situations, including terrorism. We continuously monitor, evaluate, and prepare for threats to the grid and other critical infrastructure. We remain committed to incorporating the most up-to-date research and information into our procedures and plans to strengthen the grid, enhance security and improve system resiliency.

We are committed to doing whatever it takes to keep the power on for our members.

functioning. In addition to serving their communities, lineworkers are also called on to provide aid across the state and nation following major storms and other times of need. This commitment to "cooperation among cooperatives" is one of the core principles that demonstrates the true strength and character of the cooperative network.