Side by side (AL, EIA-861)
| Metric | Alabama Power Co | Baldwin County El Member Corp |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 16.77 | 13.87 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 15.90 | 13.22 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,811 | $1,498 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 1,332,911 | 83,005 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Co-op |
| Counties served in AL | 59 | 2 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Alabama Power Co · Baldwin County El Member Corp · Alabama overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Baldwin · Monroe counties (AL, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Alabama Power Co and Baldwin County El Member Corp do not compete for the same meters. Alabama is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (psc.alabama.gov). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Alabama Power Co cheaper than Baldwin County El Member Corp?
- No — in 2024 Alabama Power Co customers averaged 16.77 cents/kWh versus 13.87 for Baldwin County El Member Corp (EIA-861). Baldwin County El Member Corp was cheaper by 2.91 cents, about $314 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Alabama Power Co to Baldwin County El Member Corp?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Alabama has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Alabama Power Co more expensive than Baldwin County El Member Corp?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Alabama Power and Baldwin County El Member territory all feed the 2.91-cent gap.