Utilities

     Electricity

Mississippi Power Company, Electric Power Associations of Mississippi, and Mississippi Power & Light serve the electrical needs of Smith County. These utility companies offer incentive electricity pricing to new or expanding industries that make significant investments in Smith County. These utilities also provide competitive rates and other cost-saving programs for business and industry. In Smith County, our utility companies are truly partners with business and industry.

Mississippi Power Company
Incentive Rate Program
Mississippi Power Company with a total installed generating capacity of 2,285,622 kW and a 1995 peak demand of 2,157,000 kW is part of The Southern Company and provides service in the southeastern part of Mississippi. Its affiliates are Alabama, Georgia, Gulf, and Savannah Electric Power companies. The transmission systems of these companies are interconnected so that power generated at any point may be generated at any point may be utilized at any other point.

The Southern electic system had a total installed capacity of 36,348,245 kW as of December 1993. Power is generated by hydro, fossil fuel, and nuclear plants with 78% of total generation supplied by coal.

Mississippi Power Company has fossil fuel power plants near Gulfport 1,051,360 kW, Pascagoula 500.000 kW, Meridian 119,400 KW, Hattiesburg 67,500 kW, and Demopolis, Alabama 200,000 kW. The Company also has a gas turbine generating plant with 147, 292 kW serviceat an oil refinery near Pascagoula.

The electric service rates of the Mississippi Power Company are uniform throughout its territory. The level of these rates compares favorably with the rates of other regions. The average cost of service per kWH for a particular industrial plant depends upon the size of the plant, the number of shifts the plant will operate, and other factors. When a prospective industry determines its power requirements, the Mississippi Power Company will gladly estimate the cost of such service.

Electric Power Associations of MS
Incentive Rate Program
The Industrial Development Department of the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi provides assistance in a wide variety of ways to existing business and industry with expansion plans, individuals or organizations interested in starting new businesses, out-of-statae companies interested in locating new operations in Mississippi, and communities involved in activities related to economic development.

The Electric Power Associations of Mississippi is the statewide office of the rural electric systems in the state. The Industrial Development Department represents 11 of those systems which serve, in general, the Delta region and the area of the state along and south of Interstate 20. Rural electric systems within the TVA area, the northeastern area of the state, support the economic development efforts of the North Mississippi Industrial Development Association.

The Industrial Development Department attempts to provide information and technical assistance to community officials, development professionals, businesses and entrepreneurs on such matters as financing, taxes, labor, training, sites, available buildings, raw materials, markets state and federal regulations, and many others. At times, this assistance may include only referrals to or coordinating contact with appropriate agencies, individuals, or organizations.

The Rural Economic Development Financing Program of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) makes available zero-interest loans to assist in financing economic development projects which benefit residents of rural areas of the county. These loans are available to businesses, organizations, or governmental entities through participating REA borrowers, rural electric systems, or rural telephone companies, and are funded on a competitive basis. The Industrial Development Department provides assistance in determining the applicability of the loan programs and in preparation of the applications.

Southern Pine Electric Power Association
Southern Pine Electric Power Association headquarters located in Taylorsville, is a member-owned cooperative that distributes reliable, affordable electric service at some of the lowest rates in the nation. Mississippi powers thousands of homes, farms, businesses and industries throughout 11 counties in central and south Mississippi.

Southern Pine is a respected leader in state and local economic development efforts. It is the mission of Southern Pine Electric Power Association "to provide reliable, safe and efficient services at a competitive price to all customers, whether we are supplying electricity to a poultry farm, an urban subdivision, or a multi-million dollar industry. Our commitment is to set the service standard for the providers of electric service and remain the power provider for our customers".

Entergy
Entergy Corporation serves the electrical needs of the western portion of Smith County. Entergy is tied into a substantial electric production and transmission system which covers a large part of a 4-state region. Additional reliability is assured through its link with the Southwest Power Company.

Entergy's electric generation fuel usage is very flexable and is changed when warranted by fuel costs. In 1995 electricity was provided by natural gas (42%), nuclear (30%), purchased power (15%), and coal (13%). Total owned production capacity is 22, 868 megawatts. Most importantly, reserve margins are adequate to assure a dependable source of reasonable priced electricity for the future.

Natural Gas

Center Point Energy
Center Point Energy serves the major portion of natural gas needs in Smith County. Center Point Energy is a diversified energy concern engaged in the distribution of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. It is Center Point Energy's commitment to provide excellent service while delivering its product at the most economical rate. Competitive rates are available for potential and existing industrial customers as an incentive for companies to locate, expand, and invest in the county. Serving commercial and industrial customers in 12 states, we provide a variety of natural gas management services for commercial, institutional and industrial end users, including a number of Fortune 500 businesses.

Center Point Energy places a high priority in individual involvement and overall corporate citizenship through both civic organizations and customer assistance programs. At Center Point Energy, "natural gas is their product, but service is their business."

Raleigh Natural Gas
Raleigh Natural Gas serves Raleigh and the immediate vicinity. The system is operated by the Town of Raleigh. Two Interstate pipelines serve the system to insure uninterruptable service. Sales are around $395,000 annually with 450 customers.
Raleigh Gas Natural understands the critical importance of reliable, reasonable priced services to the customers and communities they serve. They are committed to ensuring their customers the highest quality service available.