Susanville and the surrounding area receives electricity from Lassen Municipal Utility District, one of more than 2,000 public power utilities that provide electricity to more than 49 million people across the country.
There are many reasons why our community continues to own and operate its own electric utility.
“LMUD has operated alongside our customers in Lassen County ever since May, 1988,” explains LMUD Public Relations Manager Theresa Phillips. “The District was formed when a concerned group of community members, known as Citizen’s Power, came together to explore the benefits of a publicly-owned utility.”
“Prior to the formation of LMUD, our community was served by an investor-owned utility – CP National. At the time, CP National was charging .17 cents per kilowatt hour for energy, one of the highest rates in the nation. Immediately after LMUD came into existence, the rate was lowered to .08 cents per kilowatt hour, a 52% decrease! Today, almost 30 years later, LMUD’s kWh rate of .13 cents is still 23% lower than CP Nationals’ was in 1988.”
“LMUD not only works for our community,” says Phillips, “it is our community.”
Public power utilities are community-owned, which means the customers are included in the decision-making process.
“Knowing our community and its needs helps us keep homes, businesses, and public places powered year-round. Local ownership allows us to focus on our community and our customer’s unique needs. Decisions that affect you are made at the local level – not by faraway executives or stockholders.”
According to Phillips another benefit you receive from LMUD’s not-for-profit business model is that your electricity rates are significantly lower than the neighboring investor-owned utility.
“We have continued to keep rates stable while steadily improving the service we provide.”
LMUD’s strong commitment to our community can also be seen in places you may not expect. In the past year, the utility has provided support to local non-profits in the form of energy efficiency upgrades and rebates, provided scholarships to graduating seniors and participated in many local events.
“As a not-for-profit public power utility, our loyalty is to our customers – not stockholders. We take pride in our governance structure – with an elected policy board comprised of local members, which has open meetings the fourth Tuesday of each month in our board room located at 65 South Roop Street.”
This year’s Public Power Week celebration takes place Sunday, October 1st, through Saturday, October 7th. Drop by the LMUD office at 65 South Roop Street on Friday, October 6th, for refreshments – you can also enter the drawing for a $100.00, LMUD energy gift card.
“LMUD will continue to provide cost-effective, reliable electricity and support our customers in their efforts to use energy as wisely as possible,” says Phillips.
“We thank you for your support of public power — an American tradition that works.”
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