In 1936, the City of Florence
purchased the electrical distribution system from Alabama Power Company
that served electricity customers within the Florence city limits. Then,
as now, the Electricity Department purchased power from the Tennessee
Valley Authority; in those days, it was distributed to 2,344 customers
through 30 miles of distribution line.
Ten years later, the City
purchased the electric distribution system that served Lauderdale County.
The additional 220 miles of distribution line brought 2,493 more customers
into the system, and the Florence Utility Department began furnishing
electricity to the entire county.
How things have changed!
Today, the Florence Electricity Department’s 143 employees furnish
power to 45,800 customers, using 44 substations and over 2,482 miles
of power lines. We utilize a Global Information System that uses global
positioning and a comprehensive computer programming system that allows
the Department to locate problem areas and quickly dispatch help in
the case of a power outage. The Department’s total operating
revenue is
in excess of $83 million, and it purchases over 1.1 billion kilowatt
hours annually from TVA.