The U.S. electric utility industry is mammoth in size, supplying approximately 4.0 million gigawatt hours in 2009 alone. And when we think of the body of utility companies that work to keep our lights on day-in and day-out, it tends to be the big guns, like Pepco and Con Edison, that spring to mind. But it’s a little known fact that 42% of the U.S. power infrastructure is managed by publically-owned rural electric and municipal cooperatives – 900 of them in fact, operating in 47 states and owned by the customers they serve! Here are a few other little known facts about America’s rural utility providers: • They carry more electricity than private firms, and do it with less revenue and a cheaper cost • They manage 42% of the U.S. power infrastructure • They show a 82% satisfaction rating from customers • It’s not just power – rural electric and municipal utility companies serve multiple commodities and services including, gas, water, wastewater, solid waste, storm drainage, cable, Internet and telecommunications and more