Public Power Surveys
Participate in ongoing surveys by checking out the Public Power Surveys page.
Public power utilities are one of three primary types of electric utilities that serve customers in the United States.
Public power utilities are:
- Not for profit
- Community-owned
- Locally controlled
One in seven Americans are served by a public power utility. Approximately 2,000 communities – in 49 states and 5 U.S. territories – have a public power utility.
As a whole, public power utilities have lower rates than other types of electric utilities.
- Residential customers of public power utilities pay monthly bills that are on average 4% less than customers of investor-owned utilities, and 16% less than customers of cooperative utilities.
- See state by state rates
- Average revenue per kilowatt-hour (member access only)
Public power utilities also deliver more reliable electric service.
- Outside of major adverse events (e.g., storms), customers of a public power utility are likely to be without power for less time – 76 minutes a year compared to 138 minutes a year for customers of private utilities.
10% of electricity generated in the U.S. is from public power facilities.
In 2020, approximately 40% of this electricity was generated from non-carbon emitting sources.
Find more data on electricity generation and generating capacity in the Public Power Statistical Report and America’s Generating Capacity report
Public power supports strong local economies.
Annual electric revenue from sales for public power is approximately $60 billion.
Public power utilities invest this revenue into their communities through:
- Payments in lieu of taxes
- Providing hometown jobs
- Offering free or reduced cost electric services
- Supporting local causes and charities
Read more about how public power gives back to communities.
Public power utilities employ 96,000 people in hometown jobs. Read why these employees should be paid competitively to maintain public power’s advantages.
Reports
Get more data about public power and electric utilities in the following reports.
- Public Power Statistical Report includes information such as:
- 100 largest public power utilities by generation
- 100 largest public power utilities by revenue
- 100 largest public power utilities by customers
- 100 largest public power utilities by megawatt-hour sales
- Public Power data by state
- Retail Electric Rates in Regulated and Deregulated States
- Governance Survey