The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), which began operation in 1946, generates, transmits and distributes electric power to a 900-square-mile service area at rates that are consistently lower than the investor-owned utilities in the state of California. As the sixth largest publicly owned utility in the country in terms of customers served, its innovative energy programs are known throughout the world. SMUD's purpose is to provide solutions for meeting our customers' electrical energy needs. SMUD’s vision is to empower customers with solutions and options that increase energy efficiency, protect the environment, reduce global warming, and lower the cost to serve our region.