What North Baldwin Utilities does

North Baldwin Utilities (NBU), legally The Utilities Board of the City of Bay Minette, is a public utility board chartered in 1945 by the City of Bay Minette, Alabama, that delivers water, wastewater, and natural gas services across North Baldwin County. NBU's water system is supplied by eight (with one source citing nine) groundwater wells drawing from the Pliocene-Miocene Aquifer, with a combined pumping capacity of 4.68 million gallons per day, distributed through a network of 3/4-inch to 12-inch pipes and stored across eight tanks ranging from 250,000 to 1,500,000 gallons. The wastewater system comprises over 260,000 feet of sewer lines (8 to 27 inches in diameter), 800+ manholes, and 25 lift stations feeding two treatment plants — the Harry B. Still Sr. Plant (built 1983) and the Westside Treatment Plant (built 2003) — both operating the Schreiber Activated Sludge Process. Natural gas is purchased from BP Energy, Inc. and transported via the Gulf South Pipeline to serve 1,800 residential, 24 industrial, and 335 commercial customers.

The utility operates as a regulated monopoly within its exclusive service territory, which spans at least 15 communities including Bay Minette, Stapleton, Stockton, Tensaw, Live Oak, Pine Grove, Holly Hills, Lottie, Rabun, Little River, Blackshear, Phillipsville, and Perdido. Revenue is generated primarily through recurring subscription-based tariffs across the three utility services, supplemented by one-time government infrastructure grants. Customer-facing digital infrastructure includes an online payment portal (via CNI at northbaldwinutilities.payub.com), e-billing, ACH auto-draft, and an e-services request portal. Leadership comprises CEO Jason M. Padgett, COO Jeffrey L. Donald, and CFO LeeAnn M. May, with a five-member Board of Directors appointed by the mayor and city council.

NBU's growth posture is anchored to a multi-billion-dollar Novelis aluminum manufacturing facility in Bay Minette (expected to create ~1,000 jobs), supported by a $2.5 million EDA grant awarded August 29, 2023, and a major water line expansion along D'Olive Road and County Roads 39–40 led by GMC Contracting. In May 2024, NBU completed the merger with White House Water System, expanding its territory to the south end of its system and absorbing WHWS personnel. As of the latest disclosure, NBU operates at only 44% of installed capacity (2016 calculations), providing a long demand-absorption runway without proportional capex, and in September 2025 transitioned to a four-day employee workweek as a retention lever.

Name

North Baldwin Utilities

Legal name

The Utilities Board of the City of Bay Minette

Website

https://northbaldwinutilities.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

North Baldwin Utilities is a public utility board chartered in 1945 by the City of Bay Minette, Alabama, providing water, wastewater, and natural gas services to over 40,000 residents across North Baldwin County under an exclusive regulated service territory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Utility Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Natural Gas Distribution (22121), Utilities (221)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Natural Gas Transmisison & Distribution (4923)

akta.pro primary industry

Service Lines, Connections & Customer Hookups (New Taps) (TLAGADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wastewater Interceptor & Regional Conveyance Pipelines (Long-Distance) (TLAGAHAE), Customer Class Allocation & Decoupling/Performance-Based Ratemaking (PBR) (EUAJAIAF)

Keywords

• Water utility services
• Wastewater treatment services
• Natural gas distribution
• Public utility services
• Municipal water supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Bay Minette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Water Utility Services: Revenue from providing drinking water to over 40,000 residents across North Baldwin County. Water is sourced from 8 groundwater wells and distributed through a system of pipes ranging from 3/4 inches to 12 inches.
2. Wastewater/Sewer Services: Revenue from wastewater collection and treatment services. Provides sanitary sewer services to most residents and businesses in Bay Minette through over 260,000 feet of sewer lines, 800+ manholes, and 25 lift stations.
3. Natural Gas Distribution: Revenue from natural gas distribution serving 1,800 residential customers, 24 industrial customers, and 335 commercial customers. Natural gas is purchased from BP Energy, Inc. and transported via Gulf South Pipeline.
4. Government Infrastructure Grants: One-time infrastructure grants from government agencies such as the EDA's $2.5 million grant for infrastructure upgrades supporting new aluminum manufacturing facility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

North Baldwin Utilities is a public utility providing three core services: water distribution and treatment sourced from 8 groundwater wells (4.68 million gallons/day capacity), wastewater collection and treatment through two treatment plants and 260,000+ feet of sewer lines, and natural gas distribution sourced from BP Energy via Gulf South Pipeline. The utility serves over 40,000 residents, 1,800 residential gas customers, 24 industrial gas customers, and 335 commercial gas customers in North Baldwin County, Alabama.

Product overview

North Baldwin Utilities (NBU) operates as a public utility providing three core services: water distribution and treatment, wastewater collection and treatment, and natural gas distribution. The company was established in 1945 and currently serves over 40,000 residents in North Baldwin County, Alabama. Water service is supplied through eight wells with 4.68 million gallons daily capacity, while wastewater is managed through two treatment plants using Schreiber Activated Sludge Process. Natural gas is purchased from BP Energy and delivered via Gulf South Pipeline. Supporting these core operations, NBU offers customer-facing digital services including e-billing, debit authorization for auto-pay, an online customer portal for account management and payments, and e-services for service requests. The company also integrated White House Water System (WHWS) customers in 2024, expanding its service footprint.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Distribution & Treatment Public water supply service providing clean drinking water to over 40,000 residents of North Baldwin County. The system includes eight water wells with combined pumping capacity of 4,680,000 gallons per day, distribution pipes ranging from 3/4 inches to 12 inches, and eight storage tanks with capacities ranging from 250,000 to 1,500,000 gallons.
• Wastewater Collection & Treatment Sanitary sewer collection and treatment service covering most residents and businesses in Bay Minette. The system includes over 260,000 feet of sewer lines (8 to 27 inches in diameter), over 800 manholes, and 25 lift stations. Two treatment facilities operate using the Schreiber Activated Sludge Process: Harry B. Still Sr. Plant (built 1983) and Westside Treatment Plant (built 2003).
• Natural Gas Distribution Natural gas distribution service serving 1,800 residential customers, 24 industrial customers, and 335 commercial customers in North Baldwin County. Gas is purchased from BP Energy, Inc. and transported via Gulf South Pipeline. Includes annual leak detection surveying, safety monitoring, and service continuity even during inclement weather and power outages.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water system capacity of 4.68 million gallons per day serving over 40,000 residents
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• BP Energy, Inc.coreOthersHouston-based BP Energy, Inc. is the natural gas supplier for NBU's natural gas distribution system. Natural gas is transported via the Gulf South Pipeline.
• White House Water System (WHWS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn September 2023, NBU and WHWS entered a maintenance contract with NBU assuming all field service responsibilities. WHWS field employees became NBU full-time employees. The merger was finalized at the end of May 2024, with WHWS office employees joining NBU's workforce. The WHWS office continues as a second NBU location.
• GMC ContractingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGMC Contracting of Andalusia, Alabama is leading the construction of the water line improvement project in the Whitehouse Fork area. The project includes installing new water lines and upgrading existing infrastructure along D'Olive Road, County Road 40, and County Road 39.
• Baldwin EMC and Riviera UtilitiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNBU joined Baldwin EMC and Riviera Utilities for the Career Exposure Event at Baldwin County High School on April 8, 2025, giving students hands-on experience with utility careers.
• Alabama 811coreOthersAlabama 811 is the state's 811 call-before-you-dig service that NBU participates in. Alabama law requires everyone to contact 811 at least 48 hours before starting any excavation project to prevent damage to underground utilities.
• Alabama Coastal Foundation (ACF)minorOthersNBU participates in Utilities United, a program led by the Alabama Coastal Foundation that educates the public about the importance of the local environment and what people can do to help keep it healthy.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Spire Energy (formerly Alagasco): Large investor-owned natural gas distribution utility serving most of Alabama including parts of the Gulf Coast region. Comparable to NBU's natural gas distribution business at scale, though it does not provide water/wastewater and operates under different regulatory framework.
• Gulf States Utilities / Entergy Gulf Coast: Large investor-owned utility serving the Gulf Coast region including parts of Alabama and Mississippi. Relevant as a broader energy infrastructure comparator in NBU's Gulf Coast geography, though it primarily focuses on electric generation and transmission rather than municipal water/sewer service.
• Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW): Largest three-service municipal utility in the United States, serving Memphis, Tennessee with electric, natural gas, and water services. Mirrors NBU's triple-utility product mix and board governance model at substantially greater scale.
• Birmingham Water Works Board: Large water utility serving Birmingham, Alabama, with comparable surface and groundwater treatment infrastructure. Operates as a similarly structured independent utility board and represents a scaled comparison point for NBU's water operations.

Regional players

• Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS): Regional water and wastewater utility serving Mobile, Alabama. Comparable to NBU's water and wastewater treatment operations at larger scale, operating in the same Gulf Coast Alabama region with similar regulatory oversight.
• Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB): Multi-service municipal utility serving Knoxville, Tennessee, providing electric, natural gas, water, and wastewater services. Operates as a similar multi-utility board structure with comparable product mix to NBU, though at meaningfully larger scale and in a different state.
• Tuscaloosa Water and Sewer: Water and wastewater utility serving Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Comparable to NBU's water and wastewater business model and Alabama-specific regulatory environment, though it does not provide natural gas service.
• Baldwin EMC: Electric cooperative serving Baldwin County, Alabama. While focused on electric distribution rather than multi-utility service, it shares NBU's county-level service territory and customer base, and the two jointly participate in community career exposure events.

Direct peers

• Huntsville Utilities: Multi-service municipal utility serving Huntsville, Alabama, providing electric, natural gas, and water services. Comparable as another Alabama municipal multi-utility operating under similar regulatory and governance structures, though at significantly larger scale.
• Riviera Utilities: Multi-service municipal utility serving neighboring southern Baldwin County, Alabama. Like NBU, it provides electric, water, wastewater, and natural gas services to a defined Alabama service territory, making it the closest geographic and operational comparable.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/northbaldwinutilities
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-baldwin-utilities
• Instagraminstagram.com/north.baldwin.utilities

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Baldwin Utilities