Public Power
Public power utilities are operated by local governments to provide communities with reliable, responsive, not-for-profit electric service. Public power utilities are directly accountable to the people they serve through local elected or appointed officials.
Some of the nation’s largest cities – Los Angeles, San Antonio, Nashville, Seattle and Orlando – operate publicly-owned electric utilities, but many public power communities are small, with their utilities serving 3,000 or fewer customers.
The American Public Power Association, the service organization for the nation’s more than 2,000 community-owned electric utilities. has a host of fact sheets about the benefits of public power.
Power in numbers
community-owned electric utilities make up public power
use public energy nationally
of the nation uses public power

Benefits of public power
High reliability
Immediate access to local rate-setting authorities
Local service and repair access
Long-term focus on community growth
Greater portion of revenues stay in the community
Local employment
Attractive nature of community-delivered electricity to new and relocating businesses
Greater awareness of local energy needs