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Why Public Power?

It’s a

tradition that’s worked

for over 125 years.

Benefits of Public Power

There are three primary types of electric utilities in the United States, including investor-owned, public-owned and cooperative utilities. One in 7 Americans is served by a public power utility. Approximately 2,000 communities, in 49 states and 5 U.S. territories, have a public power utility.

Lowell Light & Power is a public power utility, which means we are community owned and not for profit. Public power customers benefit from lower rates, local control, more reliable service and strong local economies.

As a whole, public power customers pay lower rates than other types of electric utilities. On average, residential customers of public power utilities pay monthly bills that are 13% less than customers of privately owned utilities.

Outside of major adverse events (e.g. storms), customers of public power utilities are likely to enjoy higher reliability, experiencing less time without power – 76 minutes per year compared to 138 minutes a year for private utility customers.

Public power utilities support strong local economies by investing revenue into their communities through:

  • Payments in lieu of taxes
  • Providing hometown jobs
  • Supporting local causes and charities

Learn more about the ways Lowell Light & Power gives back to our community.

Where We Get Our Power Supply

LL&P is one of 22 member communities in the Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA). Established as a Joint Action Agency, the MPPA gives LL&P and other member communities the opportunity to work together, to jointly invest in, own and operate larger and more economical electric generating and transmission facilities. Together the MPPA member communities share the benefits gained by the group’s combined ‘economy of scale’.

As a member of the MPPA, Lowell Light & Power is given the opportunity to participate in a number of energy projects, and the degree of participation with each project is selected. LL&P is currently involved in several different projects with the MPPA, all intended to administer reliable energy, that is cost effective to the participant.

LL&P’s power supply undergoes continuous evolution, with renewable energy resources playing an ever-growing role in our overall power supply mix. Thanks to MPPA, LL&P has significantly broadened its renewable energy portfolio by investing in diverse wind and solar projects across the state. Additional details about our renewable energy sources will be added to the website in 2024.

Strategic Plan

Read Lowell Light & Power’s Strategic Plan & Action Item List.