Utilities

Vernon’s publicly-owned and operated Light & Power Department provides its business community with some of the most reliable and low-cost utility service in the State of California. In operation for more than 70 years, the Light & Power Department offers electric, gas, water and fiber optic service.

The Vernon Light & Power Department’s electrical power and distribution system helps to guarantee uninterrupted electrical service for Vernon’s businesses and costs 10 to 30 percent less than other utility providers nearby. Vernon’s natural gas distribution system also provides significant advantages for the city’s businesses. Drawing on a network of over 44 miles of six-inch main pipes and seven miles of transmission pipe, Vernon’s natural gas utility typically charges 10 to 30 percent less than the private utility alternative in the city.

Vernon Light & Power is able to offer water rates that are among the lowest in Southern California, particularly for large industrial users, as a result of its unique blend of water sources and the makeup of Vernon’s customer base, which is relatively small but uses a high per capita volume of water. The City obtains water by pumping its own wells, leasing water rights from other entities and through a connection to the Metropolitan Water District.

The City has also installed 35 miles of fiber optic cable throughout its five-square mile area, which allows it to offer “dark fiber” and “lit fiber” services. This advanced network of fiber optic cables provides businesses in Vernon with new ways to virtually connect their office buildings and to access the Internet at higher-speeds for lower rates.