Utilities are rooted in the communities they serve, working to support local goals for job creation, business growth, and long-term economic stability. When that investment and growth don’t occur, this can lead to:
- Flat or declining load: fixed costs are spread over fewer customers which puts upward pressure on rates
- Loss of major employers: when businesses leave, so do jobs and tax dollars which creates instability in the local economy
- Less investment in infrastructure: growth often leads to grid upgrades that benefit everyone, given the improved economics of that long-term infrastructure investment
