here is no doubt that energy costs and reliability continue to be at the top of any site selection list.
      Given that fact, when the Stillwater Business Park in Redding, California became a reality, the Redding Electric Utility became a significant contributing benefit to the potential long-term success of the project and to the many new manufacturing and office customers who will make Stillwater their home.
      Why is REU so important to the overall success and competitiveness of Stillwater? There are several factors, but certainly near the top of the list is the fact that in a state dominated by investor owned utilities, REU provides a local, publicly owned electricity delivery system and product that is not only priced extremely competitively, but also statistically has proven to be extremely reliable.
      REU will be able to provide redundant supply to its customers at Stillwater, but the fact is that there is very little chance of interruption because of the integrity of the entire system. REU’s reliability factor is one of the best in California.
      Electric pricing becomes a major cost item for most manufacturing companies and REU not only offers pricing that is sometimes 40 percent below investor owned utilities, but also provides a local control and flexibility that allows for many creative approaches to delivering low cost power.
      How can REU provide this pricing and service? The City of Redding owns and operates REU and has invested in its own power generation.
      In addition, REU is a recipient of low cost hydro power delivered from nearby Shasta Dam and has invested in renewable energy such as wind and biomass. The REU portfolio is diverse and by operating its own power plants Redding can also provide peak system resources when demands are high.
      In addition, REU provides some very creative incentives, not only in flexible rates, but in utilization of public benefit dollars to assist companies in their new facilities by partnering to insure that energy efficiencies are built into the operations. REU is truly committed to becoming a partner willing to invest in the technology to help companies and reduce their operating costs.
      The Stillwater Business Park in Redding, California is designed to provide “ready to go” large sites to accommodate industrial and commercial tenants and REU is ready to provide companies with highly efficient, competitively priced power, along with creative incentives to keep operating costs as low as possible.