VIDALIA, La. (UrbanCast: 10/2/2026) — Alexandria residents frequently hear that owning a municipal electric system helps provide some of the lowest electric costs around.
But about 90 miles away, Vidalia offers another example of what public ownership can mean for utility customers.
On September 8, the Vidalia Town Council approved $2,834,102.50 in excess hydroelectric revenue for its annual customer rebate.
Mayor Buz Craft recommended the amount, which he said represents a 50% rebate on residential billings.
“That’s 50%. That’s the most we can do by ordinance,” Craft told council members before the unanimous vote.
Craft said Vidalia returned roughly the same amount last year. He credited former Mayor Sydney Murray and previous town leaders with establishing the hydroelectric arrangement.
“We’re reaping the benefits and gonna reap it for years to come,” Craft said.
The citizens benefit, too
That is where Vidalia’s story becomes particularly interesting for Alexandria.
Both communities have publicly owned electric systems. However, residents experience the financial benefits of that ownership differently.
In Vidalia, the town benefits from its hydroelectric assets. Its utility customers also receive a direct financial benefit.
This year, that means $2.83 million going back to customers.
Alexandria also owns and operates an electric system. It generates revenue through electricity sales but does not provide customers with a comparable annual rebate.
Instead, Alexandria uses utility revenue within city government, including utility operations, infrastructure and other authorized purposes.
The systems are different. Vidalia’s rebate stems from its unique hydroelectric arrangement, while Alexandria operates a larger and more complex utility system.
Still, the difference for customers is straightforward.
Vidalia has structured part of the financial benefit from its public energy assets to return directly to its citizens.
What happens after the rebate?
During the September 8 meeting, Craft said Vidalia’s electric costs are around average or slightly below average before the rebate.
He specifically mentioned Alexandria while discussing electric systems and rates across Louisiana.
Then he explained what the rebate does for Vidalia customers.
“After the rebate, it blows them all out of the water,” Craft said. “We go so far below what other people are paying, it’s almost laughable.”
Craft said Vidalia customers have the lowest effective electricity costs in Louisiana after the rebate. That statewide claim was not independently verified by UrbanCast.
However, Vidalia’s approach provides Alexandria residents with an interesting comparison.
Public ownership can benefit residents through rates, infrastructure, reliability and services. Vidalia also provides something customers can see directly: money returned to them.
Craft said town officials hope the rebates continue for years. He also acknowledged important decisions are approaching before 2030 concerning the arrangement’s future.
For now, Vidalia customers will once again share directly in the financial benefit.
For Alexandria residents, that leaves a simple question worth asking:
When citizens own the utility, how should they share in its financial benefits?
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