Presley Pushes to Extend Small Business Rate Incentives For Job Creation and Expansion

Presley says over 400 small businesses have saved more than $140,000 because of the PSC Small Business Rate Incentives.

Jackson, Mississippi  (November 8, 2012) – Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley today publicly encouraged four of Mississippi’s major electric and gas utilities to extend Small Business Rate Incentives for another year.  Incentives provided by Entergy Mississippi, Mississippi Power Company, CenterPoint Energy Resources and Wilmut Gas & Oil Company are set to expire December 31 of this year.   Atmos Energy Corporation has a similar program expiring in September 2013.   Presley urged the utilities to continue the successful programs, which provide for reduced rates, waived security deposits and encouragement of development of vacant buildings, through the end of 2013.   “Since the Commission approved riders for the five major Mississippi utilities, hundreds of small businesses have seen tangible savings of over $140,000 in overhead costs; money that can now be invested in creating new jobs and growing the Mississippi economy,” Presley said. Small businesses that open, expand or create jobs are eligible to a myriad of discounts from savings on deposits to rate discounts by the participating companies. Presley first introduced the idea at the PSC last year in an effort to help small businesses.

"Small businesses are sadly forgotten in many areas of government, but not at the PSC. These small business owners are the backbone of our state's economy. They are the folks at your service station, local diner and Main Street businesses. They have no lobbyists, yet they are, many times, the ones putting people to work. I want to make sure they get help doing that" Presley said.

Presley commended the utilities’ work in helping small business, but warned that the Mississippi economy still needs the benefits that the riders provide.  “As the economy grows, entrepreneurs will begin to see opportunities to open businesses and create new jobs.  We should not allow high utility costs to dissuade them from this goal,” Presley said.
Presley also encouraged continued and expanded processes for spreading the word to potential small business owners.  He will ask the full Commission for a formal request to extend the riders at the Commission’s December meeting.  “This incentive is solid encouragement to Mississippi entrepreneurs that their utilities and their State stand behind them in the desire to bring their goods and services to the Mississippi marketplace,” Presley concluded.