Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant management, staff and Commissioners have always focused on the future. We know that decisions made today will affect others tomorrow.

We also know the future isn't the one depicted in science fiction movies... it's the here and now. It's the Strategic Planning Initiative that TMLP staff and management have been working on since 2010 in an effort to become more efficient,effective and competitive. It's the preventative maintenance programs, the capital investments, the supply planning and long and short-term power purchases, the investment in solar power for residential and commercial customers, and the commitments made to customers each and every day by TMLP staff to provide reliable and efficient service.

TMLP is continually evolving and growing and is making a solid investment in the future of how we do business. In other words, TMLP is invested in its customer's future by providing uninterrupted and reliable electric, generation and internet service today. Without that dedication and eye to the future, the future of our utility and service to our customers would be uncertain at best.

It's the decisions that were made within the past few years that are coming to fruition today. Decisions like dismantling and decommissioning the West Water Street station, revitalizing the building in the coming year to be used as our telecommunications center, implementing upgrades to the generation and distribution equipment, purchasing solar generation. And decisions like creating an interruptible rate for large commercial customers who are able to shut down during peak operating times, a move that saved six companies a combined total of more than $260,000 in 2012.

We know firsthand that today's plans become tomorrow's reality. Because the future is now.