The town I live in has a municipal gas and electric department. The advantages are they are local and not some mysterious identity in cyberspace, a rate charge that is quite low and – most importantly – great customer service. The key is how does the department respond when a significant power outage happens?
Wind storms – your classic nor’easter – have hit our area many times in the 43 years I have lived here. With a townland area the second largest in the state, the downed lines can be a logistical nightmare. Internally there are limits so that brings in external sources to deal with the power outage.