Greenville, NC, October 27, 2025
News Summary
The Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC) has garnered multiple awards for financial excellence from the Government Finance Officers Association. Recognitions include the 16th consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the launch of a new community solar farm aimed at supporting renewable energy. Additionally, the Golden LEAF Foundation has pledged $1 million to East Carolina University for its medical education center. GUC will also make temporary changes to its water treatment process this summer.
Greenville, NC – The Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC) has achieved multiple awards for financial excellence from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada. The GUC Finance Department earned various accolades for the fiscal year 2024 that underscore its commitment to budget presentation, financial reporting, and purchasing practices. This recognition reflects the department’s professionalism and dedication in managing public funds.
Among the achievements, the GUC Finance Department received the GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year 2023-24. This marks the 16th consecutive year that the finance department has earned this esteemed certificate. Additionally, GUC was honored with the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its fiscal year 2023-24 budget, marking its ninth consecutive year of receiving this award. The department was also recognized with the GFOA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR) for fiscal year 2024, marking the ninth consecutive year of this honor. Furthermore, it received the Sustained Purchasing Award from the Carolinas Association of Governmental Purchasing for the 14th year.
In tandem with recognizing the finance team’s accomplishments, GUC’s Gas Systems Engineer Carl Smith, Assistant Director of Gas Systems Durk Tyson, and Gas Distribution Engineer Dillon Wade were acknowledged for their exemplary safety practices in the Gas Department. The Greenville Utilities Gas Department was awarded the T.R.U.S.T. Award at the Silver Level from the Carolinas Public Gas Association for excellence in safety, training, community outreach, and environmental responsibility, scoring the highest among all systems that applied for the award.
In addition to these recognitions, GUC has launched a new 499 KW community solar farm designed to provide customers with an opportunity to support renewable energy production. The solar farm, featuring 1,120 solar panels, is expected to generate approximately 88 kilowatt-hours of electricity monthly and reduce carbon emissions by roughly 53 tons annually. This initiative is part of GUC’s Community Solar Program, which allows customers to subscribe and receive monthly bill credits for the energy produced. The launch of the solar farm coincided with Public Power and Public Gas Week, acknowledging the efforts of community-owned utilities. A recent survey indicated that 53% of respondents are willing to pay more to reduce carbon emissions, demonstrating an ongoing demand for sustainability in the community.
In other news, the Golden LEAF Foundation awarded $1 million to East Carolina University (ECU) to support the new Center for Medical Education at the Brody School of Medicine. This funding supports the construction of a seven-story, 195,000-square-foot building set to be completed by 2027, aimed at increasing the training capacity of medical students, residents, and fellows at ECU. This installment marks the first million-dollar philanthropic investment for the medical school expansion.
Moreover, GUC is set to change the disinfectant used in the water treatment process from chloramines to chlorine starting June 16 and ending on July 28, marking a temporary adjustment in their water treatment protocol.
Summary of Key Awards and Initiatives
- GFOA Awards: 16th consecutive year for Excellence in Financial Reporting, 9th year for Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, 9th year for Outstanding Achievement in PAFR, 14th year for Sustained Purchasing Award.
- Solar Farm: 499 KW community solar farm with 1,120 solar panels, expected to generate 88 kilowatt-hours monthly, reducing carbon emissions by 53 tons annually.
- Investment by Golden LEAF: $1 million for ECU’s Center for Medical Education; construction of a new building expected to complete by 2027.
- Water Treatment Notice: Temporary change in disinfectant from chloramines to chlorine from June 16 to July 28.
FAQ
What awards did the GUC Finance Department receive for fiscal year 2024?
GUC’s Finance Department earned the GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, the GFOA Award for Outstanding Achievement in PAFR, and the Sustained Purchasing Award.
How many consecutive years has GUC received the Certificate of Achievement?
This marks the 16th consecutive year the GUC finance department has earned the Certificate of Achievement.
What is the purpose of the newly launched community solar farm?
The new 499 KW community solar farm is designed to provide customers with a way to support renewable energy, generate electricity, and reduce carbon emissions.
What major investment did the Golden LEAF Foundation make?
The Golden LEAF Foundation awarded $1 million to East Carolina University to support the Center for Medical Education at the Brody School of Medicine.
When will GUC change the disinfectant used in the water treatment process?
GUC will change the disinfectant used in the water treatment process from chloramines to chlorine starting June 16 and ending on July 28.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Greenville Completes $48.5 Million BUILD Improvement Project
Duke Energy Proposes Rate Hike for South Carolina Customers
Duke Energy Proposes Rate Increase and New Power Plant in South Carolina
Carolina Renewable Products Plans $280 Million Facility in South Carolina
Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Southern California Edison Over Fires
Pendleton Place Launches Campaign to Support Youth and Families
Florida’s Everglades Detention Center Faces Imminent Closure
South Carolina Sees Surge in Electric Vehicle Sales
Duke Energy Proposes Merger of Subsidiaries to Enhance Efficiency
Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas Promote Safe Digging Practices
Additional Resources
- Reflector: GUC’s Finance Department Earns Awards
- WITN: Greenville Utilities Launches Community Solar Farm
- WNCT: Greenville Utilities Earns Awards
- Wikipedia: General Reference
- Google Search: Greenville Utilities
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
