Our Impact
In 1990, Arkansas retail electricity prices were above the national average and those of our bordering states. But fast-forward to 2010, and our prices are below both the national average and those of our neighbors. Electricity costs in Arkansas have actually decreased over the last two decades, even with inflation and increased usage. In fact, only three states in the U.S. have averaged lower electricity prices for commercial customers than Arkansas over this same time period – even though we rank 17th in commercial customer usage.
Affordable
Arkansas’s economic health is on everyone’s mind these days. And how we rebuild our economy and create jobs is at the forefront of our state and national debate. For families and businesses, less money spent on electricity means more money that can be spent on other necessities. Arkansas’s electric customers pay some of the lowest rates in the country due to a balanced source of fuels, including clean-burning American coal. Our electric rates are 25 percent below the national average, giving us a competitive business climate and a low cost of living. Providing families and businesses with a reliable supply of affordable electricity is key to getting our economy back on track so we can keep existing jobs and create new ones.
Balanced
Arkansans are plugging in more devices that run on electricity than ever before. So it’s no surprise that our demand for electricity will continue to rise. To meet that demand with our strategies for energy efficiency, we’re going to need all of our available domestic resources: including natural gas, nuclear, hydro, wind, solar and especially clean coal. Coal is one of America’s most abundant, domestically produced energy resources. And coal supplies affordable, reliable electricity at a relatively stable price.
*Arkansas electricity generation by fuel. Source: U.S.
Energy Information Administration Form EIA-923
Clean
Low-cost clean coal is the fuel of Arkansas’s future. And we are committed to ensuring our future is a clean one. Since 1990, America’s clean coal-based electricity industry has invested more than $90 billion in clean coal technologies to reduce air emissions and another $6 billion has been earmarked for additional clean coal technology projects currently underway all across America. Air emissions from coal-fired electricity generation have been reduced by 90 percent over the last 40 years. Arkansas should continue to utilize clean coal solutions to reduce emissions and keep energy prices low for our families, consumers and businesses across the state.
Fuel-Switching Means Fewer Jobs For Arkansas
Now is not the time to change Arkansas’s balanced energy portfolio. Unfortunately, other states have considered legislation mandating the replacement of clean coal electricity generation with other, more expensive fuels. This so-called “fuel-switching” legislation was successfully adopted in Colorado, where families and businesses will be burdened with $1.4 billion in additional electric rate increases starting in 2015. Similar bills were narrowly defeated in Oklahoma and Texas. Balanced Energy Arkansas will oppose any legislation that would mandate or designate preferred fuels for the generation of electricity in Arkansas. Mandating the use of one particular fuel over another would lead to higher and more volatile electric rates. Arkansas can’t afford to add “pain at the plug” to our “pain at the pump.”