In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, forming a public power utility was a necessity for many communities. As larger corporations began establishing electric services in bigger cities, where the return on investment was most certain, small- and medium-sized communities across the country were

While they might not be as high-profile as the Wall Street mergers and acquisitions that make the headlines — or provide fodder for binge-worthy legal dramas on streaming services — Main Street has had its share of takeover attempts for community-owned electric utilities run by the local (or

Keeping electricity costs low is a priority for public power. Nationwide, the average residential customer served by public power pays 11.8 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared to 11.9 cents for cooperative utilities and 13.5 cents for customers served by investor-owned utilities. For the average U.S

It is a best practice for every public power utility to conduct a periodic valuation of its services and assets, even when the skies are blue and there is no threat of a potential sale looming. A valuation usually underscores the core benefits of public power — competitive retail rates, a track