Side by side (AR, EIA-861)
| Metric | Southwestern Electric Power Co | Arkansas Valley Elec Coop Corp |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 11.53 | 13.33 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 11.46 | 12.73 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,245 | $1,439 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 108,102 | 54,372 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Co-op |
| Counties served in AR | 14 | 11 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Southwestern Electric Power Co · Arkansas Valley Elec Coop Corp · Arkansas overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Logan · Scott · Sebastian · Washington counties (AR, 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; Southwestern Electric Power Co and Arkansas Valley Elec Coop Corp do not compete for the same meters. Arkansas is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (apscservices.info). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Southwestern Electric Power Co cheaper than Arkansas Valley Elec Coop Corp?
- Yes — in 2024 Southwestern Electric Power Co customers averaged 11.53 cents/kWh versus 13.33 for Arkansas Valley Elec Coop Corp (EIA-861). Southwestern Electric Power Co was cheaper by 1.79 cents, about $194 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Arkansas Valley Elec Coop Corp to Southwestern Electric Power Co?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Arkansas has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Arkansas Valley Elec Coop Corp more expensive than Southwestern Electric Power Co?
- 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 Arkansas Valley Elec Coop and Southwestern Electric Power territory all feed the 1.79-cent gap.