All Seven Peak Shaving Generators Are Up and Running

All seven peak shaving generators are up and running at GUC’s peak shaving generation “plant” at the MacGregor Downs Substation. That plant can now produce 14 megawatts (MW) of energy.  

The plant puts the energy into the GUC grid during times of high demand to lower what GUC needs to purchase from Duke Energy. During the one hour of time each month when energy use is at its peak, the wholesale price that GUC pays skyrockets. That one hour ends up being more than 50% of GUC’s monthly wholesale power bill.  

These generators will be used to offset those costs by burning natural gas instead of buying electricity at a premium price, optimizing our energy use. The estimated savings to GUC is roughly $335,000 a month. 

Typically, peak shaving generators have been installed at industrial sites and operated behind the industrial customer’s meter.  After an updated power supply agreement with Duke Energy and our power agency, GUC is now able to put that energy into its system to serve all customers. 

The first two 2MW generators installed in August of 2025 replaced older generators at ECU Health Medical Center.  

This project will see an expansion to 20MW in 2027, with bids for additional generators being released at the end of this year.