State Competitiveness: Mississippi

Mississippi state policy requires investor-owned utilities to offer net metering up to specific system circumstances. Aggregated capacity limit is 3% of utility’s peak demand, with utility commission required before refusing additional participants.

Mississippi does not allow PPAs, but allows solar leases.

Mississippi partially participates in one wholesale market, Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), covering about 49% of the state’s electricity customers. Additional parts of the state participate in bilateral trading through the Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM).

Mississippi’s electric utility sector, including distribution utilities, is moderately concentrated. The has a customer concentration (HHI) score of 1,137, in the 1,000 to 1,800 range that indicates a moderately concentrated market, but near the lower limit. This indicates some, but limited, competition.

Mississippi has statewide interconnection standards for investor-owned utilities, with no maximum size limit for the rules.

Mississippi does not have a formal requirement for competitive solicitations, but about 49% of the state’s customers are in a wholesale market.

Mississippi has at least one approved utility green tariff program. Among the state’s five largest utilities by commercial and industrial (C&I) electricity sales, those offering green tariffs account for about 21% of total C&I sales within this top-five group, indicating limited access for large customers.

Mississippi does not have a state consumer advocate office that represents ratepayers.

Mississippi does not permit residential electricity customers retail provider choice.

Mississippi does not permit commercial electricity customers retail provider choice.

Electricity generation in Mississippi is provided by a small number of power producers. The state has a generation concentration (HHI) score of 1,610, which is in the 1,000 to 1,800 range that indicates a moderately concentrated market, suggesting some, but not full, competition.

Mississippi does not have a state policy allowing for CCA.

Mississippi partially participates in one wholesale market (MISO), with open membership available to customers in MISO (about 49% of the state’s customers), a limited level of civil society participation opportunity overall.

Mississippi partially participates in one wholesale market (MISO), with delegated state authority (about 49% of the state’s customers), a limited level of wholesale market state authority.