TRINITY PUBLIC UTILITIES DISTRICT

What TRINITY PUBLIC UTILITIES DISTRICT does

Trinity Public Utilities District is a California public utility district, formed in 1981 and commencing operations on June 30, 1982, that distributes electricity across Trinity County, California, from its headquarters at 26 Ponderosa Lane, Weaverville. It serves approximately 7,230 meters across 604 miles of power line in rugged mountainous terrain (fewer than 12 customers per mile) and delivers 100% carbon-free hydroelectric power sourced from Trinity Dam via the Central Valley Project, with 97% of load connected directly to generation since Western Area Power Administration completed its new substation and transmission line in 2008-2010.

Core products are tiered electric distribution services (residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural pumping, and lighting) supported by a SmartHub web/mobile account platform, a real-time outage map, and a Net Metering / Solar program. The utility supplements core delivery with electrification rebates (heat pumps, water heaters, EV chargers), a low-income Energy Net assistance program funded through a state-mandated Public Benefit Charge, and a Community Investment Program supporting local non-profits. Trinity PUD self-reports among the lowest electric rates in California and reinvests an estimated $3 million annually into local labor and supplies while retaining over $7 million in the local economy versus private-utility alternatives.

Trinity PUD's business model is that of a regulated monopoly utility: rate-regulated recurring electricity sales to residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and lighting customers, billed monthly with optional Easy Pay auto-debit and Level Billing. Revenue is supplemented by one-time service connection/reconnection fees ($35-$300), miscellaneous charges (returned checks, late fees, damaged meters), and pass-through state surcharges and the Public Benefit Charge. The utility is governed by a locally elected Board of Directors led by Board President Mike Rourke and General Manager Sarah Sheetz; key infrastructure partners include Western Area Power Administration (power supply) and historically PG&E (transmission, largely resolved via the 2010 Hayfork/Hyampom Tap acquisition).

Name

TRINITY PUBLIC UTILITIES DISTRICT

Legal name

Trinity Public Utilities District

Website

https://trinitypud.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Trinity Public Utilities District is a California-regulated public utility district that distributes 100% carbon-free hydroelectric power to roughly 7,230 meters across Trinity County via 604 miles of power line, serving residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and lighting customers with what it reports are among the lowest electric rates in California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Power Districts & State/Provincial Utilities (EUADABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Utility-Scale Generator PPAs (Project Offtake) (EUAGADAB)

Keywords

• Electric utility services
• Hydroelectric power distribution
• Public power district
• Rural electric service
• Energy efficiency rebates

Headquarters

HQ city

Weaverville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electricity Sales: Trinity PUD generates revenue primarily through electricity sales to residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and lighting customers in Trinity County. Rates are regulated and include various rate schedules based on customer class. Revenue is collected through monthly billing via SmartHub, online payment, automatic Easy Pay debit, mail, and in-person payments.
2. Public Benefit Charge: State-required charge collected from customers. Funds are used locally to support Energy Net low-income assistance program and Energy Efficiency programs including Heat Pump Rebates.
3. California Energy Surcharge: State tax collected from customers and remitted to the California State Energy Commission.
4. Service Connection and Reconnection Fees: Fees for new service connections, reconnections, and disconnections. Varies by timeframe (within 3 business days: $35, next business day: $150, same day/after hours: $300).
5. Miscellaneous Fees: Fees including damaged meters ($160-$280), returned checks ($25), late payments (1.5% or $10 minimum), 48-hour shut-off notices ($50), counter collection ($35), and credit card convenience fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Trinity Public Utilities District distributes 100% carbon-free hydroelectric electricity from Trinity Dam to residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural pumping, and lighting customers across Trinity County, California. The utility operates 604 miles of owned power lines and delivers tiered electric service through regulated monthly rate schedules. It supplements distribution with the SmartHub customer portal, net metering, energy-efficiency rebate programs, and a low-income assistance program (Energy Net).

Product overview

Trinity Public Utilities District is a public power utility that operates as a single, unified platform providing electricity distribution services. The core offerings include tiered electric service programs (Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Agricultural, and Lighting rates) built around 100% carbon-free hydroelectric power from Trinity Dam via the Central Valley Project. Customer-facing digital services center on SmartHub, a web and mobile account management portal enabling bill payment, usage monitoring, and outage notifications. The utility supplements its core electricity distribution with customer incentive programs including heat pump, water heater, and EV charger rebates, plus a low-income assistance program (Energy Net) and community investment initiatives. The company also provides outage mapping, billing assistance programs, and web accessibility tools, collectively forming an integrated public utilities platform serving Trinity County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Electric Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivers 100% carbon-free electricity to customers
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• PG&EcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2010PG&E provides transmission services for Trinity PUD. In 2010, Trinity PUD negotiated an agreement to purchase PG&E's 60kV transmission lines referred to as the Hayfork and Hyampom Taps. Trinity PUD initially connected to Western's power through PG&E's transmission infrastructure. The purchase of these facilities enabled improved reliability and elimination of nearly $1 million in annual costs in exchange for fixed debt service.
• Trinity CountymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004In 2004, Trinity PUD worked with Trinity County to help prevent closure of the county's only hospital. Trinity PUD assumed operational responsibility temporarily while legislation was passed allowing formation of a new healthcare district to operate the hospital, saving 120 hospital jobs and preventing damage to local health services and economy.
• Northern California Power Agency (NCPA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Trinity PUD negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with NCPA and Western in 1995, providing Trinity PUD nearly the same bottom line in net costs as a rate based on Trinity River hydro generation. NCPA agreed to support the concept of Western meeting Trinity PUD's load with all hydroelectric power. This MOU resulted in nearly $1 million total annual benefit for Trinity PUD customers.
• Western Area Power Administration (Western)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1982Western Area Power Administration markets electric power for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and provides Trinity PUD with access to low-cost hydroelectric power from Trinity Dam under the 1955 Trinity River Division Act. Western has helped Trinity PUD organize and serves as the power supplier for the district via PG&E's transmission infrastructure. Western completed a new substation at Trinity Dam in 2008 and a new transmission line from Trinity Dam to Weaverville Switchyard in 2010, enabling 97% of Trinity PUD's load to connect directly to Trinity Dam generation.
• Human Response NetworkminorOthersLocal grant-funded organization that may assist Trinity PUD customers with past due balances. Customers can contact them at (530) 623-2024 to see if they qualify for assistance.
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)minorOthersState program that may assist Trinity PUD customers with weatherization of their home and/or home heating expenses. Based on income and family size. Contact: (800) 287-8711.
• Trinity County Health and Human Services - Adult ServicesminorOthersAdministers Trinity PUD's Energy Net (Low Income) program. Customers can apply through this department or pick up an application at the District office. Contact: (530) 623-8209.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric Company): California's largest IOU, from which Trinity PUD acquired most of its service territory (Weaverville basin 1989, Hayfork 1993). Comparable in service to overlapping customer base in northern California and as a reference rate benchmark — Trinity PUD's positioning as 'lowest rates in California' is explicitly against PG&E.
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD): California's largest publicly-owned electric utility serving Sacramento and unincorporated Sacramento County. Directly comparable as a community-owned, regulated distribution utility in California, but at vastly larger scale, providing a benchmark for how small PUDs (like Trinity PUD) could evolve with growth, generation assets, and clean-energy programs.
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP): Largest municipal utility in the U.S. While vastly larger and urban, LADWP is a publicly-owned electric distribution utility in California with its own generation portfolio, providing a long-horizon view of how a public-power model scales and integrates clean energy mandates.
• Imperial Irrigation District (IID): Large California irrigation/district utility with its own generation and distribution. Different geography (Imperial Valley) and much larger scale, but structurally a PUD-style, publicly-governed electric distribution utility in California, useful for benchmarking governance, generation ownership, and rate-setting practices.

Regional players

• Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative: Rural electric cooperative serving parts of Plumas and Sierra counties adjacent to Trinity County. While a member-owned cooperative (not a PUD), it is a directly comparable small rural Northern California electric distribution entity with similar customer density, terrain, and customer mix.

Direct peers

• Redding Electric Utility (REU): Municipal electric utility operated by the City of Redding, California, in the same far-northern region as Trinity PUD. Comparable publicly-owned distribution utility with residential/commercial/industrial rate classes, similar California regulatory environment, and proximity — a key regional peer.
• Burney Basin PUD: Tiny California PUD serving Burney Basin in Shasta County. Comparable rural PUD model with similar reliance on WAPA hydro, small customer base, and similar customer mix. Useful for benchmarking small-PUD operating economics and rate outcomes.
• Lassen Municipal Utility District (LMUD): Public utility district in Susanville / Lassen County, California. Same PUD structure, similar small rural service territory in far Northern California, and similar dependence on WAPA-preference power. Direct functional comparable for rate, customer, and infrastructure benchmarking.
• Shasta Lake Public Utility District: Small California PUD serving the City of Shasta Lake area, also in the far northern / Shasta-Trinity region. Same regulatory form (California PUD), same small-customer rural service territory dynamics, and overlapping exposure to WAPA/CVP power and California regulatory oversight — a close functional analog.

Others

• Northern California Power Agency (NCPA): Joint-powers agency of which Trinity PUD is a participant (1995 MOU) providing access to hydroelectric resources. NCPA is a peer/partner for power procurement, portfolio diversification, and small-utility consortium models in California.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trinity-public-utilities-district

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 TRINITY PUBLIC UTILITIES DISTRICT