Municipal Utilities: Good For All of Us

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Municipal Utilities: Good For All of Us

Kyle Ziemer

A municipal utility, also known as ‘public power’, is owned by the city it serves and provides essential utility needs to its residents and businesses. The one thing that unites all municipal utilities, no matter how big or small is their commitment to community and affordable, reliable electric service. Local people working together to meet local needs is the heart of what municipal utilities value. Through service, education, and financial contributions, municipal utilities are active citizens of the community it serves which provide their customers with many benefits. Service, not profit, is the municipal utility’s primary mission. On national average, public power rates are lower than those of other utility companies. That’s because their rates are governed by the city itself and they have the control to make decisions based on the best interests for the community and its residents. The emphasis of providing the most cost effective, reliable service over maximizing profit helps to make power more affordable for everyone which serves every community’s long-term goals. Because municipal utilities have a local presence within the community, they are readily available to address their customer’s needs. Citizens can benefit from excellent customer service when there is a problem and be assured that the problem will be addressed. Response times from utility crews located in the city are quicker and more effective in restoring service due to emergency situations and outages. Their commitment to provide reliable, safe service is a customer service priority for utility companies. Educating their customers in the use of programs designed to conserve energy and valuable natural resources helps leave a legacy for the future from resources that will never run out. Municipal utilities offer a host of services, programs and resources that not only help the environment but also help their customers decrease their energy usage and save money. These services consist of a wide range of energy efficiency and conservation programs such as: air conditioning tune-ups, Energy Star appliance rebates, LED and CFL lighting programs, public education, energy audits, grants, and off-peak

power programs, are just a few of those services offered by my local utility. Also, they help the environment by supporting renewable energy generation resources through wind and solar power and the recycling of methane gas produced from decomposing garbage to produce electricity to supply its customers. Because of their vested interest in the communities they serve, there are many ways municipal utilities provide significant contributions that strengthen the local economy. Municipal utilities provide financial contributions to the city that in turn help to keep property taxes down. In addition, the sharing of personnel, equipment and supplies with other city departments or projects promote the efficiencies within local governments. Also, municipal utilities can serve as a valuable tool for economic development. The flexibility to negotiate incentives and a prestigious RP3 award demonstrating the reliability of quality service are major advantages for the community in attracting and retaining commercial and industrial customers. Local ownership provides for local employment which means the customer’s utility dollars stay in the community supporting the local economy. In the end, public power does exactly what its name suggests; it puts power in the hands of the public. Municipal utilities are good for all of us!