SMUD
SMUD is a community-owned municipal utility district providing regulated electricity service to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Sacramento, California, with a 2030 Zero Carbon Plan, long-duration iron-flow battery storage, and investment-grade AA/AA2/AA3 credit ratings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersSacramento, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SMUD does
SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) is a community-owned, not-for-profit municipal utility district established in 1946 and headquartered in Sacramento, California. The company delivers regulated electricity service to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across the Sacramento metropolitan area through a service territory monopoly granted under California law. Its core product is electricity distribution, supported by a smart metering and cloud DataOps infrastructure, grid modernization partnerships with vendors including Itron, Landis+Gyr, Siemens, and Oracle Utilities, and an ambitious 2030 Zero Carbon Plan to transition to a carbon-free power portfolio. SMUD monetizes primarily through regulated tiered electricity rates (including Time-of-Day peak pricing of 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays), Low Income Discount Rates for qualifying customers, the voluntary Greenergy® renewable energy program, and rebate-driven revenue programs covering heat pump water heaters (Go Electric), residential solar and battery storage ($500/kWh up to $10,000 per household), EV charging, and commercial/business energy efficiency upgrades.
The company's go-to-market is sales-led but operates within a regulated public-utility framework, combining direct customer engagement through its website (smud.org, available in 16 languages), mobile app, and Business Energy Advisor program with contractor partnership channels such as the Go Electric Program (e.g., Super Brothers Plumbing, Heating and Air). Customer segments are split horizontally across Residential (primary), Business/Commercial (primary, including anchor accounts such as UC Davis Health's 2.5-mile dedicated renewable feed supporting a 60% emissions reduction), and Low-Income (persona-based). On the technology side, SMUD is making a strategic bet on long-duration energy storage through a framework agreement with ESS Inc. for up to 200 MW/2 GWh of iron-flow battery capacity, funded in part by a $10 million California Energy Commission grant, positioning the utility at the leading edge of post-lithium grid storage deployment.
SMUD holds investment-grade credit ratings of AA2/AA3 (Moody's) and AA (Fitch) on its 2026 electric revenue bonds, with stable outlooks citing strong financial position, diversified customer base, and consistent revenue streams. The company is governed by an elected Board of Directors and is not subject to acquisition, with ownership permanently residing with the community it serves. Leadership visibility is strong: CEO Paul Lau received the SEPA 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award and was reappointed to SEPA's Board of Directors effective January 1, 2026, reflecting SMUD's national profile in grid resilience, decarbonization, and clean energy innovation.
SMUD firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SMUD
- Legal name
- Sacramento Municipal Utility District
- Website
- https://smud.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- SMUD is a community-owned municipal utility district providing regulated electricity service to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Sacramento, California, with a 2030 Zero Carbon Plan, long-duration iron-flow battery storage, and investment-grade AA/AA2/AA3 credit ratings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SMUD industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electric Utility Services
- NAICS
- Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Distribution (221122)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regulated Residential & SMB Retail Supply (Default/Standard Offer) (EUAGABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Retail Billing, Customer Care & CIS/BSS Operations (for Residential/SMB) (EUAGABAK), Retail Supply + DER/Virtual Power Plant Bundles (Solar, Storage, DR) (EUAGABAI), EV Charging–Integrated Retail Supply (Home/SMB) (EUAGABAJ)
Keywords
Where SMUD is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sacramento
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SMUD business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Electricity Sales: Regulated electricity sales to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Sacramento service territory. Revenue generated through tiered rate structures including Time-of-Day pricing during peak hours (5pm-8pm weekdays).
- Green Energy Programs: Greenergy® program providing customers option to source electricity from renewable energy. Revenue includes premium pricing for voluntary green energy enrollment.
- Rebates and Incentives: Various rebate programs for heat pump water heaters, solar installations, battery storage, and EV charging. Programs funded through utility budgets and state grants.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Solar Battery Rebate - $500 per kWh up to $10,000 per household |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
SMUD product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SMUD provides regulated retail electricity distribution to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the Sacramento metropolitan area through its community-owned grid infrastructure. Core services include electricity supply with tiered residential and business rates, Time-of-Day peak pricing, low-income discount rates, the Greenergy® renewable energy subscription program, and rebate/incentive programs for solar, battery storage, heat pumps, and EV charging. Supplementary offerings include the SMUD Energy Store, business energy advisor services, free shade tree distribution, and dedicated design and construction services for commercial energy projects.
Product overview
SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) operates as a public power utility providing electricity services to the Sacramento area. The company offers a unified electricity service as its core product, supplemented by multiple add-on modules and programs including rate options (Time-of-Day Rate, Low Income Discount Rate), green energy programs (Greenergy®), energy efficiency incentives (Go Electric Program, Business Rebates, Solar for Your Home), Electric Vehicles support, and customer management tools (SMUD Mobile App, My Account online portal). These offerings work together under the Clean PowerCity® brand to support SMUD's 2030 Clean Energy Vision goal of achieving a carbon-free power portfolio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Greenergy®: SMUD's renewable energy program that allows customers to source their electricity from renewable sources.
- Clean PowerCity®
- HomePower℠
Products and services
- SMUD Electricity Service Core regulated retail electricity distribution service providing power to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the Sacramento service territory through SMUD's grid infrastructure, with various rate options including standard residential and business rates.
- Greenergy® Renewable Energy Program Voluntary green energy subscription program allowing residential and commercial customers to source their electricity from renewable energy sources. UC Davis Health sources its entire electrical feed from renewable energy through this program, reducing emissions by 60% via a dedicated 2.5-mile SMUD electrical feed.
- Go Electric Program
- Solar for Your Home Program
- Electric Vehicles Program
- Business Rebates Program
- Design and Construction Services
- Free Shade Trees Program
- SMUD Energy Store
- SMUD Solar Battery Rebate Program Rebate program for Sacramento homeowners installing solar battery storage, paying $500 per kWh of battery capacity up to $10,000 per household while program budgets last, designed to drive residential battery storage adoption.
Quantifiable outcome
- 60% emissions reduction for UC Davis Health through Greenergy® renewable energy program
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SMUD
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SMUD technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature3 records
SMUD partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA)corePaul Lau from Sacramento Municipal Utility District was reappointed to SEPA's Board of Directors effective January 1, 2026. SEPA announced the reappointment along with leaders from Duke Energy Corporation and Holy Cross Energy, recognizing SMUD's leadership in grid resilience and clean energy innovation.
- UC Davis HealthcoreOne of SMUD's largest clean-energy customers. UC Davis Health's Central Utility Plant Expansion (CUPx) project establishes a new 2.5-mile SMUD electrical feed sourced entirely from renewable energy through SMUD's Greenergy® program, reducing the health system's emissions by 60% in preparation for the 2030 California Tower opening.
- Studio T Arts & EntertainmentminorSMUD provided a $100,000 grant to support energy-efficient HVAC upgrades for the $30 million 'Innovation Factory' flagship project in Sacramento. The project targets underserved youth through arts education and career development programs across 44,000 square feet.
- ESS Tech, Inc.coreKey technology partner for SMUD's long-duration battery storage project in Sacramento. ESS Tech is providing iron flow battery technology capable of 8 hours of storage, supported by a $10 million California Energy Commission grant. The project demonstrates iron-air battery technology supporting SMUD's 2030 Zero Carbon goals and renewable energy integration.
- ESS Inc.coreESS Inc. secured a framework agreement with SMUD for up to 200 MW/2 GWh of iron-flow storage deployment, representing one of the largest long-duration energy storage commitments in the industry and supporting SMUD's decarbonization strategy.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SMUD competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP): Largest municipal utility in the U.S., serving Los Angeles. Like SMUD, LADWP is a community-owned, vertically integrated electric utility pursuing aggressive decarbonization, making it a directly comparable peer on structure, mission, and clean-energy strategy.
- Sacramento Municipal Utility District (peer: Seattle City Light): Seattle City Light is a publicly owned electric utility serving Seattle with a similarly aggressive carbon-neutral mandate and hydro/renewables portfolio. Directly comparable to SMUD as a municipal utility with a defined clean-energy roadmap.
- Austin Energy: Austin Energy is a municipally owned electric utility serving Austin, TX. Comparable to SMUD on community ownership, vertically integrated generation and distribution, and leadership in renewables and efficiency programs.
- Salt River Project (SRP): SRP is one of the largest publicly owned electric utilities in the U.S., serving the Phoenix metro. Comparable to SMUD as a non-profit, community-based utility with significant renewables integration and time-of-use rate programs.
Broad incumbents
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E): PG&E is the dominant California investor-owned electric utility and is explicitly cited in SMUD's competitive positioning materials. While investor-owned rather than municipal, PG&E is the most direct comparable for Sacramento-area load, regulatory environment, and clean-energy obligations.
- Southern California Edison (SCE): SCE is a large California investor-owned electric utility subject to the same CPUC decarbonization mandates as SMUD. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating across generation, transmission, and distribution in California.
- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E): SDG&E is a California investor-owned utility serving San Diego with an aggressive clean-energy and grid-modernization roadmap. Comparable to SMUD on California-specific regulatory dynamics and distributed energy integration.
- Duke Energy: Duke Energy is a large U.S. investor-owned utility with significant grid-modernization and storage initiatives. Comparable to SMUD through SEPA board co-membership and as a broad incumbent pursuing similar decarbonization strategies.
- Xcel Energy: Xcel Energy is a multi-state investor-owned utility with one of the most aggressive U.S. decarbonization roadmaps. Comparable to SMUD on clean-energy targets and as a large-scale utility deploying renewables and storage.
Emerging players
- Holy Cross Energy: Holy Cross Energy is a small Colorado cooperative utility with an industry-recognized clean-energy roadmap. Comparable to SMUD as a co-SEPA board peer pursuing carbon-free power supply with high renewable penetration.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SMUD social profiles
Digital presenceSMUD financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SMUD leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
SMUD funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SMUD M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SMUD
What does SMUD do?
SMUD provides regulated retail electricity distribution to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the Sacramento metropolitan area through its community-owned grid infrastructure. Core services include electricity supply with tiered residential and business rates, Time-of-Day peak pricing, low-income discount rates, the Greenergy® renewable energy subscription program, and rebate/incentive programs for solar, battery storage, heat pumps, and EV charging. Supplementary offerings include the SMUD Energy Store, business energy advisor services, free shade tree distribution, and dedicated design and construction services for commercial energy projects.
Is SMUD a public or private company?
SMUD is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was SMUD founded?
SMUD was founded in 1946. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is SMUD based?
SMUD is headquartered in Sacramento, United States, in the North America region.
How does SMUD make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Electricity Sales are the primary driver. The others are green Energy Programs and rebates and Incentives.
Who are SMUD's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Sacramento Municipal Utility District (peer: Seattle City Light), Austin Energy and Salt River Project (SRP). Broad incumbents are Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Duke Energy and Xcel Energy. Holy Cross Energy is listed as an emerging player.
Does SMUD have an API?
No public API is recorded for SMUD.
What industry is SMUD in?
SMUD's product category is Electric Utility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAGABAA, Regulated Residential & SMB Retail Supply (Default/Standard Offer), with a secondary code of EUAGABAK, Retail Billing, Customer Care & CIS/BSS Operations (for Residential/SMB). Its NAICS code is 2211 and its SIC code is 4911.