Relocate Triangle - An Insider's Guide About Moving To The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area

Triangle Watering Restrictions

It is almost summertime in the Triangle.  We know that because water restrictions are already in place or are under consideration for being adopted by various Triangle communities.  It is a basic fact of life that water can be a scarce commodity at times here due to a general lack of rain from June through August as well as high heat and humidity that absorbs water lying in rivers, lakes, streams, etc., and with more people arriving in the Triangle every day, well, you can see why restrictions occur. 

Most of these in effect now are voluntary rather than mandatory measures – the Triangle has not been as dry as most counties to the south and west of it, being only less than 4 inches below normal in precipitation.  But current forecasts predict little significant relief in at least the next week, and as temperatures keep rising, reservoir levels will keep falling, making it more likely limits will go into effect soon.

Even if you are not living in the Triangle yet, or live or will be living in a residence that uses well water, you need to keep abreast of these changes, particularly as they can be adjusted within weeks if not days if the area stays high and dry.  Here is a current overview:

Wake – Cary already has in place year-round water restrictions where you cannot water with an automatic or manual sprinkler system, or a sprinkler attached to a garden hose, Mondays, and odd-numbered addresses can do so Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while even-numbered addresses can do so Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.  Come July 1, the city of Raleigh and its water and sewer customers in Garner, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon will begin the same pattern year round as well.  Watering with a hand-held hose is exempt from these restrictions.  First violation for the new policy is a warning, followed by fines of $50 and $200.  A fourth violation results in your water being shut off.

Other parts of Wake County, including Apex, the outlying county and Research Triangle Park South, are under Stage I: Voluntary Conservation Practices.  Stage I encourages residents to check fixtures for leaks and keep them in good repair, store water to drink in the refrigerator instead of letting the tap run, take four-minute showers instead of baths, and turn off the tap while shaving or brushing teeth.  Residents are also encouraged to limit the use of clothes washers and dishwashers and to only wash full loads.

Durham – So far residents here are only under voluntary restrictions under Stage I.

Orange – The Orange County Water and Sewer Authority, or OWASA, which provides service to Chapel Hill and Carrboro and much of unincorporated southern Orange County, limits spray irrigation to the same schedule most of Wake County will have come July, with spray irrigation defined as “the application of water to landscaping by means of a device that projects water through the air in the form of small particles or droplets.”  Spray irrigation can occur up to each of the three days limited by address, however, but may not add up to more than one inch per week.  OWASA also charges higher seasonal water rates from May through September ($5.51 per 1,000 gallons versus $2.90 per 1,000 gallons the rest of the year) to encourage conservation and ease peak usages.

To keep up with the water restriction status in your part of the Triangle, visit the water conservation level status page on the Web sit for the Division of Water Resources of the North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources.  This page does an excellent job of letting you realize what is going on in terms of water shortages statewide and how your community is responding to it.

And no, we do not know how to do a rain dance, so do not ask us to do that, OK?

Future of Triangle Renovation

The future is ever approaching, and we still do not have flying cars – but we can have a house that will be attractive to the Triangle homebuyer of 2015.  Home remodeling is quickly becoming a common practice in the Triangle as a multitude of new homes creates a “buyer’s market,” and gently used homes are competing against an “everything is brand new” option.  Thus more and more people are turning to remodeling as the solution to beautify and increase the resale value of their homes. 

We all know that remodeling is the new reality television rage, but for us typical homeowners, it may all seem a bit much.  With so many choices for every aspect of remodeling, from choosing a room to remodel, to choosing which contractor to hire, to setting a budget, it is no wonder that these shows are so dramatic.  But underneath the “fun” stuff lies the real question, “How can I maximize my future return on this investment, while still creating an environment that I can enjoy now?” 

In this entry I will point out some of upcoming housing design trends so that you will be ready to make an informed decision about whether to install that pool you have always envisioned, or whether it would be wiser to listen to your wife and remodel the kitchen. 

The things you’ll recognize

“The Home of the Future,” a 2006 study by the National Association of Home Builders, examined current and near-future housing trends all across the country to try and determine what the typical house of 2015 will look like.  In general, 10 years from now, a house will still be a house; the function will not change, so the structure will remain rather similar as well.  The staples will always be evident: walls, floors, windows and a roof.  But the size and makeup of the interior components may change a bit.  First, let’s look at which existing rooms will change. 

The Kitchen:

Report after report, study after study, a kitchen remodel remains the best investment for homeowners.  This room is fast becoming the intersection of our lives, and even small improvements here will bring great benefits.  The NAHB study notes that larger kitchens with more seating and working spaces will anticipate the new family that eats, does homework, pays bills and surfs the Internet at the kitchen table.  New trends, including installing commercial look-alike appliances such as ovens and refrigerators, appeal to cooks – and Emeril Lagasse wanabees – of all levels.  Other reports suggest upgrading countertops to tile or understated granite, as well as upgrading cabinetry to darker wood choices. 

The Bathroom:

No longer just the loo, future bathrooms will prefer Sir Loo.  Second on any list of wise remodeling investments is the bathroom.  Upgrading this room could include involved projects such as expanding the room, connecting a large walk-in closet, laying heated floors or even installing a Toto Neorest toilet.  The bathroom of the future will double as a relaxation spa, featuring steam rooms, whirlpool tubs and entertainment systems.  However, just as in the kitchen, small upgrades here can net near perfect returns: soaking tubs, new tile, recessed lighting, oversized showerheads or traditional-styled cabinetry. 

If you’re looking for Triangle professionals that specialize in kitchen and bath remodeling, we suggest Bryant-Phillips Associates, Inc.; listed as the number one remodeling company in the Triangle in the Triangle Business Journal “2007 Book of Lists.”  Their DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen of the Triangle division offers the nationally recognized DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen brand, which provides options for a wide range of budgets.  The company was recently awarded the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) 2007 Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award for best kitchen under $30,000 in the Southeast region.

The Living Room:

The living room of your father with the big comfy armchairs and the floor model television set will be shrinking in the future.  The NAHB’s study predicted that living rooms in average and upscale homes would decrease in size, become a parlor or disappear altogether.  But do not expect this room to become obsolete.  The living room will be the hub for new technological gadgets from Bluetooth audio systems to discreet home cinemas that appears at the touch of a computer screen.  For all of you techies, this will be your room to customize with flat panel televisions, integrated speaker systems and a Smart Companion robot.  However, doing the tech thing correctly requires having a “wired” home.  That is to say, installing the Wi-fi, crossover cables and miles of structured wiring necessary to making your home a 3,000-square-foot computer. 

Here in the Triangle, you could visit Intelligent Electronics.  They offer a nice range of quality wiring products along with a seamless installation service that is an Easy Button for audio-video projects.

Bedrooms:

Even though two-story homes are becoming the new trend, housing reports foresee the necessity of a downstairs master bedroom.  This room will appeal to baby boomers who intend on aging in a home, while offering younger homebuyers the option of making upstairs or downstairs their guest accommodation.  Worthwhile investments here are tray ceilings, hardwood flooring or bay windows. 

Garage:

With more families owning large SUVs or other recreational vehicles, many studies forecast that garages with at least three ports will become desirable.  These additions, once seen as a luxury that kept your wife’s hair dry when she was taking groceries into the house, are now a playground for the “Man’s Man” and a showroom for the classic car aficionado. 

Look into epoxy floor coverings like those offered by Rust-Oleum and garage doors by Garage Door Specialist of Raleigh. 

Laundry Rooms:

The newest trend, as reported by Realtor Magazine Online, is a large laundry room.  Reports show that families are using their laundry rooms for more than just washing clothes.  This increase in activity calls for a larger, more utilitarian room that provides the perfect venue for craft projects, linen storage, pet washing and laundry folding.  Laundry appliances are receiving a makeover as well.  General Electric and LG both offer attractive front load washer and dryer sets in multiple colors that are both quiet and discreet. 

What you may NOT want to do

Of course there are renovation projects that may increase your own personal enjoyment of the home, but are not ideal investments if you are looking to place your lovely abode on the housing market chopping block.  In general, extensive customization of your home may make it the pariah of property searches.  Keep custom projects to a minimum – unless of course you are planning on living in your home forever.   Specifically, high-maintenance or career-specific projects, sometimes referred to as lifestyle improvement projects tend to net the worst return on investment (ROI): pools, large home offices and wine cellars.   

Another pitfall of many remodeling investments is the tendency of homeowners to overbuild.  To overbuild, as residential realtors put it, is to add value to a home well above what is seen in the surrounding neighborhood.  That means adding that third story with an elevator and a rooftop putting green probably will not earn a high ROI in your neighborhood of modest ranch homes.  Coldwell Banker Howard Perry & Walston CEO Eb Moore says, “You should not add more than a quarter of your home’s current value with any set of projects – you just will not recoup those costs on resale and you may elevate your home out of the market.” 

Other worthwhile investments

If you are in the market for remodeling, but do not want to change the rooms in your home, there are other investments that will make your home more attractive to future buyers. 

Floor Coverings:

Anywhere and everywhere in the house could use a floor covering upgrade.  Hardwood floors are all the craze, or you could close a wood-look laminate.  Wood and tile floors are both making a comeback, and are also easy to clean.  Check out Carolina Flooring for tons of flooring options in the Triangle. 

Energy Efficient Materials:

“Energy Independence” and “Green Living” are both terms readily used in reference to energy efficient homes.  Whichever term you prefer, energy efficient homes are popular not only because of their social message, but because of their impact on homeowners’ pockets.  The Structured Insulated Panel Association is a great resource for information on energy efficient building materials.  Structure Insulated Panels promise to decrease utility costs and increase structural stability for homes. Homes using these materials may qualify for the Energy Star program sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Lighting:

Increasing the lighting around your home, either with recessed lights or exterior flood lamps, will go a long way towards making your home more sellable. 

Paint/Siding:

The easiest home improvement projects are repainting and residing.  A new coat of paint or new siding can drastically increase the attractiveness of your home and decrease the time that it is on the market.  Blue Ribbon Construction is a great local option for exterior siding improvement. 

In the end, renovation projects are a great way to keep your house competitive while adding to your own enjoyment. 

I Have to Pay for That Too?!

Unexpected expenses are the worst kind of greeting to a new place, and unfortunately there are several you can encounter when coming to the Triangle.  We now offer you this helpful heads up warning about some items that may show up on your bill without you expecting them to do so, and how you should handle them in advance for an easier – and cheaper – time as part of your move to our area.

Electricity and Natural Gas – Maybe a Deposit, Maybe a Return on It

Many utility companies are now reporting their consumers with late and unpaid bills to credit bureaus such as Equifax and Experian.  As a result, Duke Energy, the leading supplier of electricity to the Triangle, and PSNC Energy, the leading supplier of natural gas, require new customers to place a deposit if they have a poor credit score for previous utility payments from a credit bureau.  Other utilities in the Triangle such as Progress Energy perform the same procedure.

Depending on your credit score, your deposit could be in the triple-digit range, because electric and gas companies are paid after services are used, and because of current policies, customers can use power for up to three months without having paying for the service.  With that potential in place, the companies want to make sure they get more up front than what could be used without payment for 90 days.  Deposits for all utilities will be refunded once you have made 12 consecutive and timely payments.

If you have paid your bills on time, this situation will not be a problem for you.  Otherwise, should you want to receive a free report on your credit score and history to see if you might be required to place a utilities deposit, visit AnnualCreditReport.com.  AnnualCreditReport.com is the ONLY authorized online source for you to obtain a free credit report under federal law – DO NOT USE ANY OTHERS, unless you want to pay and possibly have your information available in an unsecured location. 

For more information on this situation, visit here.

Car Costs

Your car (as well as your other commercial vehicles and trailers, motorcycles and boats) must be registered through the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles if you move to the Triangle from out of state.  This includes title and license plate fees.  Fees on the title depends on the vehicle covered and the conditions that exist on it, such as its validity and any liens needing payment, while license plate fees are $28 for passenger cars and private trucks under 4,000 pounds.  The DMV accepts cash and checks for titles and license plates, but two forms of identification, one of them a picture ID, will be needed to pay by check.  You will need to have your car insurance in order as well to receive a new license plate, so check with your insurer in advance of going to your local DMV office to see if your rates will go up living here (it could happen, depending from what state you are relocating). 

The Triangle DMV vehicle and license plate renewal locations are as follows (all open weekdays):

Wake County

1) Raleigh, 1100 New Bern Ave.; phone 919-715-7000; 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

2) Raleigh, Holly Park Shopping Center, 3070 Wake Forest Road, 919-872-2815; 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

3) Cary, South Hills Shopping Mall, 1251 Buck Jones Road, 919-469-1444; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

4) Fuquay-Varina, 131 S. Fuquay Ave., 919-552-9043; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

5) Wake Forest, 2012 S. Main St., Suite 502, 919-554-0770; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

6) Zebulon, 815 N. Arendell Ave., 919-269-0117; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Durham County

Durham, 1058 West Club Boulevard, 919-286-4908; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Orange County

Chapel Hill, University Mall, 201 S. Estes Drive Suite 137, 919-929-0204; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

You also will need to get your driver’s license changed even if you are moving to the Triangle from within North Carolina, as that is state law.  If the latter condition applies to you, most likely all you will have to do is pay for the change in license, and of course have another unflattering picture taken of yourself.  But if you are a licensed driver from out of state, you may not be required to take a road test, so check with the DMV office in advance to see if you need to do that.  If not, you then must pass written, vision and road sign recognition tests, as well as a driving test.  You will need an appointment to schedule taking a driving test.  More information on the tests are available here.

Also, bring a proof of residency, one form of ID with your full name and date of birth, proof of liability insurance and proof of a Social Security number when you come to the office.  You will most likely have an easier time to get any driver’s license visit done in the morning rather than lunchtime or the afternoon – high school students typically go to the office in those periods.  But DO NOT GO when they first open – wait an hour, and most of the crowd will be processed by then.  The nice feature is that depending on your age, your N.C. driver’s license is valid for four to eight years, unless of course you are forced to surrender it for committing a felony.  So don’t do that – we hate when that happens.

The driver’s license offices for the Triangle are as follows (all open weekdays unless otherwise listed, but hours can vary):

Wake County

1) Raleigh, Mobile Unit, Archives and History Garden, Lane and Wilmington Streets, 919-218-6250; first consecutive Tuesday and Wednesday of each month

2) North Raleigh, River Place Commerce Center, 9701 Capital Blvd., Suite 110, 919-570-1016

3) West Raleigh, 3231 Avent Ferry Road, 919-816-9128

4) Cary, 211 N. Academy St., 919-468-0319

5) Fuquay-Varina, Old Municipal Building, 131 S. Fuquay Ave., 919-552-1895

6) Garner, Forest Hills Shopping Center, 222 Forest Hills Drive, 919-662-4366

7) Wendell, 2851 Wendell Blvd., 919-365-9516

Durham County

1) Durham East, 101 S. Miami Blvd., 919-560-6896

2) Durham South, 3825 S. Roxboro St., Suite 119, 919-560-3378

Orange County

1) Carrboro, 104 V Carrboro Plaza, 919-929-4161

2) Hillsborough, 1201 U.S. 70 West, 919-732-2427

And if you car’s inspection date is due, you will have to do that immediately too, or eventually within the next 12 months in the Triangle.  Vehicle inspection is offered at most gas stations throughout the Triangle – look for a sign indicating that feature out front.  Cost is $9.25 to get a sticker if you pass inspection, plus $8.25 for the station labor fee.  There is also an emissions test required that will add $6.50 to the inspection sticker, and what’s more, some stations charge a labor free of up to $23.50, even if the car does not pass that test, which your car must do.  For more information on N.C. vehicle inspection, visit here.

Phone Home

We are going “old school” in this section, since it assumed that if you already have wireless service in your area with a major carrier such as Sprint or Alltel, those same companies are available here for you to get a local number yourself, as are the major Internet providers for those of you who prefer phone service via your computer.  We are focusing instead on the traditional phones with cords attached to them served by landlines, which can be trickier to discern.

There are two major phone companies handling landlines in the Triangle – BellSouth and Verizon.  BellSouth serves Wake and Orange counties, while Verizon oversees Durham.  BellSouth offers its Raleigh and Chapel Hill customers a basic residential service for $16.75 per month, with additional calling features available a la carte or in two bundling plans, Preferred Pack (five extra features) for $26 monthly and Complete Choice (15 extra features) for $30 monthly.  For more information, call toll-free 888-757-6500 or visit here.

Service for Verizon in Durham can be set up by calling toll free 800-483-4000.  Basic connection charge for new telephone service is $42.50 (more if the company has to come to your residence to connect service).  This charge will be on your first month's telephone bill or can be divided up between several months. Monthly fee for local service is around $22-$35 per month, with additional fees for Voicemail, Call Waiting, and other features.  For more information, visit here.

Raleigh and Chapel Hill residents also can have local phone service via dPi Teleconnect Services, a prepaid home telephone service that requires no credit checks, no contracts and no deposits.  We know, it sounds fishy, but it does have a Web site and a toll-free customer service phone (877-654-6374), so if you want to take a chance on it, go ahead, although none of us personally can attest to how well it works.

Do not be surprised to have several phone books dropped at your residence, by the way, regardless of what company you choose or even if you do not use a landline.  Competition by the phone companies is fierce, and they will put together large “Yellow Pages” style books covering businesses throughout the Triangle whether you want them or not.  If you don’t, well, that’s the reason why we covered recycling earlier, so take the hint.

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The Third "R"

Some of the final “to do” elements to have in place before moving to the Triangle include recycling and phone service.  The former may not impress you, but there is a big push in the area to limit the amount of garbage being collected due to limited landfill space, and they actually have some rules requiring residents to recycle certain items, although we are not sure exactly what the penalties are for not doing so.  Still, we wouldn’t risk it to find out why.  As for phone service, if you don’t think that is important in your life, maybe you shouldn’t be reading this blog.

The solid waste departments of Raleigh and Durham supervise recycling collection, while Chapel Hill falls under Orange County’s department.  Each single-family household receives one 18-gallon bin free from each municipality by request (Chapel Hill allows two per household).  Customers must have bins at curbside by 7 a.m. the day of collection for pickup.  All items should be clean and free of any residue and fit inside the bins to be collected.  Pickup days vary – the departments will let you know what day your area is serviced.  The real difficulty you will face is that each city has its own rules of what can be recycled (there’s that regional cooperation spirit again!), so here is the lowdown for each of them:

Raleigh – You can recycle the following:  plastic bottles with necks narrower than their bases as long as they have not contained any hazardous materials; glass food and beverage containers; metal food and beverage cans; corrugated cardboard that are completely broken down, flattened and have no liners (no pizza boxes, however); cardboard boxes (including cereal boxes) without liners or wax and metallic coatings; aluminum foil and food trays; and soft rings that hold plastic beverage containers.  You also can deposit gable-top cartons (like quart and half-gallon milk containers) and aseptic boxes (like juice boxes) that are rinsed and flattened, provided that you remove the caps off the former and the straws from the latter.  Newspapers can be recycled provided the plastic wrappers are removed, as well as their inserts, magazines, catalogs and white paper.  However, try to recycle colored paper or envelopes; checkbooks; books; carbon paper; paper with adhesive backing; unopened mail; or paper bags, napkins, tissues or other paper products, and the Raleigh recycle police will make your life miserable.  Any other questions, call 919-831-6890 weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., visit the Solid Waste Services Department at 400 West Peace St., Raleigh, NC 27603, or go here.

Durham – The city’s list of approved recycling items is similar to Raleigh’s except the following are not allowed:  gable-top cartons and aseptic boxes; plastic bottles without recycling numbers 1, 2, 5, & 7 on the bottom; and mixed paper that contains wax-coated paper, plastic-coated paper, or plastics or metals (spiral binders, paper with plastic windows).  To learn more, call 919-560-1200 or visit here.

Chapel Hill – Picky Chapel Hill recommends putting plastic bottles (all allowed), aluminum and steel cans, empty aerosol cans without tops, and glass bottles and jars into the recycling bin, and put newspapers, magazines and catalogs, phone books and mixed paper as defined in the Durham listing in a paper bag next to the bin.  (Don’t tell anyone, but if you put all the recycling items in one bin, they’ll still take them.)  You can pick up bins weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Solid Waste Management Department Administration office located on Municipal Drive off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (N.C. 86) in Chapel Hill.  For more information, visit here.

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Water, Water Everywhere

You’ve got to have stuff come into your place.  You’ve got to have stuff come out of it too.  It’s the circle of life.  In that vein, we are talking this time about setting up water and sewer service, as well as trash pickup.  These topics aren’t glamorous, but there are necessary, as it should be obvious to you (if not, you may need more help than we can give you in this blog).

If you have a well providing water for your residence, forget this section.  You have nothing to set up, so leave, go on to the trash section, and be gone.  For the rest of you remaining, here is the 411 on water and sewer service for the Triangle:

Raleigh – Go to the city of Raleigh Web site to fill out an application.  The application also can be obtained from the Utility Billing Office in person at 222 West Hargett Street, Room 107, by mail at Utility Billing Services, P.O. Box 590, Raleigh, NC 27602-0590, or by phone at 919-890-3245.  No deposit is required to open a new account, but there is a $50 connection fee added to the first bill.  Regarding sewer use, the city makes a big deal about how in order to prevent sewer overflows, customers should not pour grease, fats or oils from cooking down the drain, use the kitchen sink to dispose of food scraps, or use the toilet as a wastebasket.  We don’t know what the penalty is if you do these things, or exactly how the sewer police will track you down, but for the betterment of Raleigh, be safe and not do them.

Durham – If you own a property for which you are requesting service, call 919-560-1200 (open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, other times use an answering service) to put the service into your name.  If you rent a property for which you are requesting service, you must come by the Customer Billing Services office at the first floor of City Hall at 101 City Hall Plaza with a copy of your lease and pay the required deposit.  These methods are the only way you can set up water and sewer service with Durham right now – welcome to the Bull City!  However, you can pay your bill once you have established service by going here.

Chapel Hill – The scary name for this provider is OWASA, which stands for Orange Water and Sewer Authority and is pronounced “oh-WOSS-uh.”  The bad joke going around is when someone has a problem with a water/sewer bill, you respond “Oh, wassa matter with you?”  Anyway, you can sign up for service here, or visit its Customer Service Office in person in the Administration Building at 400 Jones Ferry Road in Carrboro (open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on major holidays) or call 919-968-4421.  You can pay your bill monthly by going here.

For some of us in apartments and condos, the water bill is included as part of the monthly maintenance fee, so make sure you know if that is the case for you.  Also, the area is prone to droughts, so be prepared to conserve water in the summer, followed by everyone talking about how they hate it because it makes their lawns brown.  They will also talk about how hot and humid it is – just nod your head and go on with your business.

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Baby Its Warm Inside

If you do not have electricity serving as your heat source, you have two options:  Find another energy supplier, or freeze to death.  Since the latter option is, well, not an option, and most other choices such as solar power are rather expensive and/or unwieldy to use at present, this means you will need natural gas.

PSNC Energy is the main natural gas supplier for North Carolina.  Registration and payment are easy to do online or by phone – the real dilemma will be deciding how you want to be billed monthly.  There are two residential categories, Value Rate 105 and Standard Rate 110.  Value Rate customers must use at least 24 therms of energy during the non-heating months of June, July and August.  Standard Rate customers pay more out of the two categories because they use less natural gas during the summer months.  (Yes, you are essentially being penalized for conserving energy.)  Even so, you may prefer to use Standard Rate billing because, obviously, it will cost you less in the summer.  It’s your call, depending on your needs.

Regardless which category you choose, we recommend you keep natural gas service all year long even if you will not use it in the summer, as you will have to pay a high reconnection fee in the fall to resume service, and you may not remember to have that done until a sudden cold snap hits the Triangle (hey, it happened this year back in October).  Also, keep in mind that some residential areas in the Triangle have less availability to natural gas lines and thus will cost more to have them installed before beginning service.  That cost may be substantial, as are natural gas fees during the winter.  Since there are few other choices at present to natural gas, your best way to save money is to keep the thermostat as low as possible and wear layers.  And it wouldn’t hurt you to snuggle up with a “significant other” to keep you warm as well.  Don’t have one?  We’ll get to that in a later blog then.

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Turn the Lights On

What could be more fun that having to set up your electricity, gas, water and sewer services when you come to town?  Probably anything else, quite frankly.  But they are necessary inconveniences that must be accomplished early in your move.  Given that, you can raise your blood pressure and frustration level by trying to locate what’s available and how to sign up – or you can take it easy and follow our simple guidelines below.

The two main residential electricity providers in the Triangle are Duke Energy and Progress Energy.  If you hear someone talk about Carolina Power & Light or maybe even “CPL” – and you will – don’t worry, it’s just a longtime resident using the old names for Progress Energy (Duke and Progress have swallowed up several smaller previous energy suppliers over the year).  The differences between them is like the old phrase “Six in one hand, half a dozen in the other.”  Both offer a wide variety of ways to pay, from in person to online, and few people argue passionately in favor of one or the other.  The best way to determine which company to use is to find out which serves most people in your neighborhood and go with that one so you all experience the same sort of benefits and problems, unless you’re a contrarian who wants to be different.

Setting up your account can be done online for Duke Energy here  and for Progress Energy here.  You will need to register with a user name and password for both in order to fill out forms electronically.  If you prefer to start service by phone, call Duke at 800-777-9898 and Progress at 800-452-2777 (both toll-free numbers).  It takes a minimum of one business day for Progress and three business days for Duke to establish service once they receive a request.  Remember that all required city and county inspections must be completed prior to connecting your permanent electric service, and for newly constructed homes or manufactured homes, an electrical inspection is required.  For some applications, a security deposit may be required up front that will be refunded after payments.  Payments called be done online, by mail, phone, automatic bank draft or in person.

There are two times of the year where power outages especially are prevalent – the winter months, when ice storms can coat aboveground lines, and the hurricane season from late spring to early fall, when even tropical storms can disrupt service by knocking down lines.  If such outages occur, be patient – sometimes it has taken up to a week to bring back service to residences.  Each power company has its own system to determine what lines will be fixed first.  You can call and complain all you want, but good luck in trying to make them change the system, much less figure out how the companies prioritize the order in which neighborhoods get back online.  Be prepared for the possibilities of these outages happen, as many power lines remain aboveground in the Raleigh-Durham area.

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