You Are Part of Public Power Democracy
Lassen County voters know what a privilege it is to have a say in who they elect to local, state, and federal offices. They may not realize they also have a voice in who runs their electric utility.
Lassen Municipal Utility District (LMUD) is governed by a board of directors elected at large by Lassen County residents. This means all registered voters who live within LMUD’s boundaries are eligible to vote for directors in all areas served by the utility.
Eligible voters can vote for all candidates, regardless of which ward they are campaigning to represent or in which ward the voter resides. This voting process is different than electing a county supervisor or a member of the state assembly, which requires the voter to reside in the district the candidate is campaigning to represent.
LMUD Board of Directors
Here’s how the LMUD board works:
- LMUD is divided into 5 wards. Each ward has 1 representative on the board of directors.
- Board members serve 4-year terms. There is no limit to the number of terms a board member may serve.
- Candidates for the LMUD board must reside and be registered to vote in the ward they are campaigning to represent.
- The board of directors is the legislative body of the utility district. It is the board’s job to determine the district’s policies.
It is our local community’s right to elect the board and be informed and included in how the board is running the community-owned utility. Community members—you, your friends, and your neighbors— have a direct and influential voice in utility decisions and policies at the ballot box and in open meetings where business is conducted.
Benefits of Community-Owned Power
Electing the board of directors is not the only benefit of being part of a public power system. Research shows customers of investor-owned utilities pay an average of 10% more for electricity than public power customers. LMUD’s residential, commercial, and agricultural customers enjoy rates that are significantly lower than those of the closest IOU, Pacific Gas and Electric.
Public power utilities are different from investor-owned utilities. IOUs are driven by the need to achieve a profit. Unlike community-owned utilities, their boards are comprised not of customers but investors. Motivated by a desire to make money, decisions often are geared toward maximizing profit rather than serving customers.
Public power has existed since 1882, when the first systems were created. Every state has at least 1 public power system. Community-owned utilities aim to provide reliable power at a fair price while contributing to their community.
As a public power customer, you are part of more than 2,000 publicly owned utilities serving millions of homes and businesses throughout the United States.
When you cast your vote in November, consider how fortunate you are to be part of LMUD’s future. You are part of the democracy that is public power.
Monthly Board Meetings
If you would like to learn more about LMUD, we encourage you to attend a monthly board meeting. The LMUD Board of Directors meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the boardroom at 65 South Roop Street. Public comment is always welcomed.
You can also visit our website to view board agendas and minutes, LMUD news, and more.
How to Register to Vote in California
Are you registered to vote in Lassen County? If you are not registered, it’s easy to do. Visit the Register To Vote website to get started. You can register online.
To register, you need to provide:
- Your California driver’s license or California identification card number.
- The last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
- Your date of birth.
You can also contact the Lassen County registrar’s office by calling (530) 251-8217 or visiting the Lassen County website.