Political Solutions
Municipal electric utilites: An FAQ
There are forty-two municipal electric utilities (MEUs) in the state of Illinois. MEUs in the state of Illinois 
have the important ability to choose clean energy sources for power. Citizens in such municipalities have the unique ability to move their municipality to adopt clean renewable energy for their power needs and energy efficiency programs to reduce energy usage.
What is a municipal electric utility?
When a municipality runs and owns its own power system, the result is an MEU.
- They must own at least its power distribution lines.
- Most do not own their own power generation plants.
- Most work together through a joint action agency to buy power.
- Customers will know if their power comes from a municipal utility because their electric bill is paid to a municipal power company instead of ComEd or Ameren.
Why should municipal utilities invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency?
Traditional fossil fuel energy sources such as coal and natural gas emit pollutants which threaten human and environmental health. Emissions include:
- Sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain
- Nitrous oxide, which contributes to smog
- Particulate emissions, which worsen asthmatic conditions and respiratory problems
- Mercury, which causes developmental problems
- Carbon dioxide emissions, which are the leading cause of global warming.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy offer viable alternatives for municipal utilities. Renewable energy such as wind energy or solar power offer clean, emissions free alternatives to coal and natural gas. Energy efficiency programs reduce emissions and save money for customers.
Opportunities exist for renewable energy and energy efficiency in municipal utilities:
- Build renewable energy infrastructure. MEUs can use specially financed bonds and grants to fund the purchase of renewable energy systems.
- Buy renewable energy as a percentage of power purchases. MEUs can request that a certain percentage of their power purchases come from renewable sources when negotiating a power contract or can purchase renewable energy credits.
- Begin energy efficiency and conservation programs. Any municipal utility is free to adopt a comprehensive energy efficiency program to reduce the energy usage of commercial customers, residential customers, and/or the municipal government itself.
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