Side by side (MS, EIA-861)
| Metric | Southern Pine Electric Cooperative | Pearl River Valley El Pwr Assn |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 14.01 | 14.25 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 13.42 | 13.50 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,513 | $1,539 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 65,176 | 52,077 |
| Ownership | Co-op | Co-op |
| Counties served in MS | 11 | 12 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Southern Pine Electric Cooperative · Pearl River Valley El Pwr Assn · Mississippi overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Covington · Forrest · Jefferson Davis · Lawrence counties (MS, 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; Southern Pine Electric Cooperative and Pearl River Valley El Pwr Assn do not compete for the same meters. Mississippi is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (psc.ms.gov). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Southern Pine Electric Cooperative cheaper than Pearl River Valley El Pwr Assn?
- Yes — in 2024 Southern Pine Electric Cooperative customers averaged 14.01 cents/kWh versus 14.25 for Pearl River Valley El Pwr Assn (EIA-861). Southern Pine Electric Cooperative was cheaper by 0.24 cents, about $26 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Pearl River Valley El Pwr Assn to Southern Pine Electric Cooperative?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Mississippi has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Pearl River Valley El Pwr Assn more expensive than Southern Pine Electric Cooperative?
- 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 Pearl River Valley El Pwr Assn and Southern Pine Electric Cooperative territory all feed the 0.24-cent gap.