Public Power utilities are community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities that safely provide reliable, low-cost electricity to more than 49 million Americans, while protecting the environment. Collectively, these utilities serve 1 in 7 electricity customers across the U.S. and operate in 49 states.
Homes and businesses in 2,000 communities across the U.S. — large cities like Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, and Seattle, as well as small towns and the Navajo nation — get electricity from a public power utility.
Learn More About Public Power
Locally Controlled
Like public schools and libraries, Public Power utilities are owned by the community and run as a division of local government. These utilities are governed by a local city council or an elected or appointed board. Community citizens have a direct voice in utility decisions, including the rates it charges and its sources of electricity.
Affordable
Public Power utilities are not-for-profit entities that provide electricity to customers at the lowest rates. In Michigan, residential customers powered by public power utilities pay an average of 25% less than customers powered by private utilities. Businesses that get electricity from public power utilities also often pay less than businesses that get electricity from private utilities.
Environmentally Responsible
Public Power generates 10 percent of all electricity in the U.S. and distributes — or sells at the retail level — 15 percent of all power flowing to homes and businesses. Public Power utilities care for the environment while they buy or generate electricity from diverse sources including natural gas, coal, and nuclear, as well as renewable energy sources such as solar, water, and wind. In several regions, public power utilities can buy wholesale hydropower generated from federal dams at cost and pass the savings on to customers.
Public Power facilities reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 33% from 2005 to 2017, outpacing the emissions reductions seen across all electric generation in the U.S. In 2017, more than 40% of power generated by Public Power came from non-carbon emitting sources.
Invested in the Community
Public Power utilities are embedded into the fabric of their communities and support a range of community programs including charitable, educational, and beautification programs. Public Power employs 93,000 people in hometown jobs. On average, public power utilities pay 5.6 percent of electric operating revenues back to the community — through taxes, fees, and special services. Public Power gives 33 percent more back to the community than private utilities.
Public Power infrastructure projects are often funded through the issue of tax-exempt municipal bonds. Funding through municipal bonds means community members invest in their electricity infrastructure — such as new generation equipment, transmission lines, and distribution system upgrades — and receive interest as Public Power utilities pay back the loan.
Reliable
Customers of Public Power utilities lose power less often. Customers of a public power utility are likely to be without power for just 74 minutes a year, compared to customers of private utilities, who lose power for an average of 136 minutes a year — provided there are no major adverse events.