History

Customer Owned ... Over 120 years of service

The Lansing Board of Water and Light is a municipal utility, owned by the citizens of Lansing, Michigan. Our roots go back to 1885, when Lansing citizens approved a $100,000 bond issue to build a water system to provide for drinking water and fire protection. Electricity was added to our list of utility services in 1892, and steam heat in 1919.

Owned and operated by hometown people, the BWL has grown to become the third largest electric utility in the state, the largest municipally owned utility in Michigan and a major employer in the Lansing area. By owning the BWL, our customers enjoy electric rates that are the lowest in the state, averaging 20 percent or more below the average rates of other utilities in Michigan.

This is the real return on investment our owners receive -- a financially healthy utility with low rates and high reliability.

History of Superintendents & General Managers