Week One: The Setup Checklist

1. Electricity — Two Utilities Cover Franklin County

Unlike Wake County (mostly Duke Energy), Franklin County is split:

• Wake Electric Membership Corporation (Wake EMC): Member-owned cooperative covering roughly the area north of NC Highway 56. Set up at wemc.com or (919) 863-6300.
• Duke Energy Progress: Serves portions south of Hwy 56 and other corridors. Set up at duke-energy.com or (800) 452-2777.

Tip: Confirm your provider by entering your service address on either site — the wrong cooperative can’t bill you.

2. Water & Sewer

Much of Franklin County is on private wells and septic systems. Inside town limits, you connect to the town’s utility. The county also operates Franklin County Public Utilities for some service areas — see franklincountync.gov/252 to start new service.

3. Solid Waste & Recycling — No Curbside

The biggest difference from Wake County: most of unincorporated Franklin County has no curbside trash pickup. Residents use one of 12 county convenience centers — free for county residents, valid ID required, hours run 7 AM–7 PM (Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat in summer; one Thursday site). See the full list and find your nearest center at franklincountync.gov/293 or call (919) 496-5002.

Town residents (Louisburg, Franklinton, Youngsville, Bunn) get town-provided pickup — check your town’s site.

4. DMV — Update Your License & Registration

• NCDMV Driver License Office — Louisburg: 90 Tanglewood Drive, Louisburg, NC 27549 · (919) 496-2590 · Appointments 8 AM–noon, walk-ins noon–5 PM
• License Plate Agency: 808 S. Bickett Boulevard, Louisburg, NC 27549 (separate office for tag/registration)
• New NC residents have 60 days to update driver license and vehicle registration

5. Internet

• Spectrum: Largest provider; cable; covers roughly 80% of county; up to 1,000 Mbps
• AT&T Fiber: Available to about 7.5% of homes; up to 5,000 Mbps where built out
• Brightspeed: NC broadband expansion funding committed for 2,374 additional Franklin locations — ask about your address
• Starlink: Widely used in unincorporated areas where fiber/cable doesn’t reach

6. Schools

If you have school-age kids, register through Franklin County Schools. The district uses a traditional school year (no year-round option). Bring proof of address, your child’s birth certificate, and immunization records.

7. Voter Registration

Register or update at the Franklin County Board of Elections: 279 S. Bickett Boulevard, Suite 300, Louisburg · (919) 496-3898. The 2026 General Election is November 3 with early voting October 15–31.

8. Get the Newsletter

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What’s Different from Wake County