State Gets Top Marks for Utility Rates

JACKSON, Miss. (Press Release) — Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley announced today that Area Development, a national site selection publication, recently ranked Mississippi as second in the nation for competitive utility rates related to economic development and job growth.

“I am proud that the economic development community around the country is taking note of the pro-jobs efforts of the Mississippi Public Service Commission to keep rates low,” Presley said. “The first job at the PSC is to protect the public interest and bring reliable utility service to the people, businesses and industries of Mississippi. While we still have much work to do to keep rates low, I am proud that Area Development has recognized the Commission’s hard work.”

Presley sponsored and passed the Small Business Rate Incentive that is targeted to Mississippi small business owners to help them save on up front utility costs. One of the most unique programs in the nation focused solely on small businesses, the incentive program has helped over 1,000 small businesses around the state save an average of $600 in initial utility costs. Presley has requested the state’s major electric and gas utilities to extend the small business incentives through 2014. So far, all major public utilities have either filed extensions to the program as requested by Presley or plan to by the end of the year.

For more information about Mississippi’s ranking go to:

www.areadevelopment.com/top-states