Public Power Week

We're celebrating Public Power Week this week along with more than 2,000 other electric utilities that collectively provide electricity on a not-for-profit basis to 46 million Americans across the nation.

Public Power Week is a chance for MLGW to articulate why the public power formula works in Memphis and Shelby County.

Benefits of Public Power

• Lower electricity rates

• Equal or greater reliability

• Efficient service – lowest cost consistent with reliability, community goals and sound business practices

• Responsiveness to customer concerns – every citizen is an owner with a direct say in policies

• Emphasis on long-term community goals

• Quick response from crews located in the community

• Not-for-profit status – lower costs and no split allegiance between customers and stockholders

• Greater portion of revenues stay in community

• Utility purchases from local establishments, including use of local financial institutions

• Local employment

• Economic development – not-for-profit electricity attracts and keeps businesses

• Tax payments, payments-in-lieu-of-taxes , and / or transfers to the community's general fund

• Access to tax-exempt financing for capital projects

• Cash flow of the utility, which may be channeled through local government treasury

• Opportunity for efficiency through integrated utility operations (e.g., operation with electric, water, sewer, garbage, gas, cable, telecommunications)

• Improved local government efficiency through sharing of personnel, equipment and supplies

• Local management and operations bring added community leadership for innovation and development

• Recognized commitment to conservation, safety and the environment

• Local control over special programs (energy conservation, rate relief for certain customer classes, etc.)

• Local control over the electric distribution system aesthetics and design

• Local control that allows matching local resources to local needs

• No economic bias toward high cost, capital intensive techniques or technologies

• Innovative techniques and technology to meet energy needs

• Primary mission of providing least-cost, reliable service over maximizing profit

• A competitive standard against which the service of all utilities may be measured