|
Elberton is a unique community in Georgia and in the United
States in that it owns and operates all the public utility and
infrastructure systems that are needed for a successful business
or industry. Elberton’s leadership has always been forward
thinking, and that has resulted in investing in public
infrastructure to meet the daily needs of citizens and
corporations.
Public Power and Electricity
More
than 2,000 cities and towns in the United States light up their
homes, businesses and streets with “public power”—electricity
that comes from a community-owned and -operated utility.
Elberton is a public power provider, reflecting its hometown
characteristics and values. Elberton provides reliable and safe
not-for-profit electricity at a reasonable price while
protecting the environment. Unlike
private power companies, public power utilities are public
service institutions and do not serve stockholders. Instead,
their mission is to serve their customers. We measure success
by how much money stays within our community through low rates
and contributions to the city budget, not how much goes out to
stockholders across the country and around the world. We are
able to make decisions locally that impact our economy and the
success of our customers.
Natural Gas
Elberton is a
public natural gas provider and distributor. The very nature of
Elberton’s gas system being locally controlled means that it
operates on a not-for-profit basis, its costs are scrutinized,
and its rates will be competitive. Rates are not established by
a public utility commission in the state capitol, but rather are
established locally. In addition, public gas systems do not
face the pressure to pay dividends to distant stockholders.
Local ownership creates greater local scrutiny. This converts
into more efficient management and lower administrative costs.
Local control promotes outstanding customer service. Elberton’s
public gas system maintains a close relationship with its
customers. As a result, it is very successful in meeting the
customers’ needs. Public gas systems can respond quickly to
emergencies because local crews live in the community and are
accountable to local officials. Repair crews that are local
possess expert knowledge of the system which in turn allows the
cause and solution to be identified quickly.
Water
Elberton has a stable water supply that is more than
adequate to meet the needs of business and industry, even during
times of extreme drought. Elberton has access to the Lake
Richard B. Russell reservoir through a long-term contract with
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for withdrawal rights and for
raw water storage space. Due to the availability of water
production capacity and the tremendous amount of raw water
available, Elberton is in the unique position of being able to
supply a large amount of water for commercial or industrial uses
at a very competitive rate. |
