Utilities in Lake Toxaway, NC

In the Lake Toxaway area it is a rural, mountainous area in western North Carolina. Because of the terrain and relative remoteness, some utilities are more robust than others, availability can vary a lot depending on exactly where a home is located(elevation, distance from main roads, etc.) Here are key utilities to plan for when moving here:

1. Electricity
2. Water and Sewer
3. Internet/Phone/TV
4. Trash/Recycling
5. Mobile & Cellular Service

Electricity

The main electric provider in the Lake Toxaway area is Haywood Electric Membership Corporation (EMC)

Because this is a membership cooperative, rates tend to reflect service in rural areas; outages during major storms or heavy weather can happen, as in any mountainous region. Make sure you understand meter setup, whether line maintenance fees or membership fees apply.

Water & Sewer

The majority of all properties unless in a community are on their own sewer and water.  If your in a community most of the time your own community water.

Well water is fairly common (especially in more remote plots) when public water lines don’t reach.  New construction often must arrange well & septic or connect to water/sewer when available.

Internet/Phone/TV

This is an area with more variation.  Options and speeds can depend on how far your home is from infrastructure.

• Comporium is a major provider in the area, offering cable, DSL, and fiber services.  It seems to be the most popular in local speed-tests.
• Fiber Internet is partially available in Lake Toxaway (some areas have fiber service).
• Cable internet (via Comporium and also Optimum in some zones) is reasonably available; coverage rates vary.
• Satellite Internet Providers such as HughesNet and Viasat are available everywhere (or nearly everywhere) and are often what rural residents rely on when fiber/cable/DSL isn’t feasible.  Speeds are more limited and latency higher, but they provide connectivity where others may not reach.
• Fixed wireless and 5G home internet are emerging options.  Providers like T-Mobile offer fixed wireless/5G solutions in some parts.
• Cable/TV services:  Spectrum is on of the cable/TV Providers operating in Lake Toxaway.

Trash/Recycling 

One service in the broader Transylvania county area which includes Lake Toxaway is The Trash Company.  They provide residential garbage and recycling hand-load pickup.

Depending on your subdivision/community association, there may also be HOAs or private road/trash agreements.  Always check with your local POA or community association for specifics.

Cellular/Mobile Service

Mobile service in mountainous or remote areas tends to be spotty.  Major carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T Mobile) have coverage, but signal strength can vary significantly depending on terrain, tree cover, elevation, and distance from towers.

If cell service is a necessity(for work etc.) it’s wise to check the exact address in the coverage maps of your chosen carrier, or to test live signal strength.

For backup or remote locations, satellite internet or service via fixed wireless may also help when mobile service is weak.

Things to Consider/Challenges

Location matters a lot:  Even within Lake Toxaway, homes that are high up, deep in the woods or far off side roads may not have access to high speed internet or strong cell signal.

Infrastructure costs: If you are developing land or building a home, adding utilities (well, septic, electric line extension, internet pole drops) can be expensive and may take time and permitting.

Redundancy:  In remote areas, power or internet outages can occur.  Some residents invest in backup generators, satellite internet, or secondary connections.

Regulatory/Permit issues:  Well and septic systems need permits. Extensions of public utility lines involve local government or utility companies.  Zoning, POAs and environmental rules may also affect what utilities can be installed.

When buying or selling a home in the area with Petit Properties we will guide you through all your utility questions and services.