N.C. Gen. Stat. § 117-3
Except as provided in G.S. 117-3.1(b), the Authority itself shall not be a rate-making body, and shall have no power to fix the rates or service charges, or to order the extension of lines by the power companies. Except as provided in G.S. 117-3.1(b), the function of making rates and service charges and orders for the extension of lines shall remain in the Utilities Commission of North Carolina, and the Authority shall only have the right of suggestion and petition to the Utilities Commission of its opinion as to the proper rates and service charges and line extensions, and no rate recommended or suggested by the Authority shall be effective until approved by the Utilities Commission: Provided, that if the Utilities Commission of North Carolina does not have the right under the existing law to fix service charges in addition to the rates prescribed for electrical energy, and the power to order line extensions, such power and authority is hereby granted the Utilities Commission of North Carolina to fix and promulgate service charges in addition to rates in any community which avails itself of this Article, and form a corporation authorized hereunder to be known as electric membership corporation, and to order line extensions when it shall determine that the same is proper and feasible.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 117-3