Utilities

Northwest Alabama’s utility infrastructure is built for industry. The region offers dual electric service options, a locally-governed natural gas distribution network serving all three counties, municipal water and sewer at competitive rates, and — most distinctively — one of the most advanced rural fiber networks in the United States. When you locate here, you’re not waiting for infrastructure to catch up to your business. It’s already here.

In October 2025, Tombigbee Electric Cooperative completed a nearly decade-long, $145 million buildout of its Freedom FIBER network — the largest rural fiber infrastructure project in Alabama history. The project installed 4,200 miles of fiber-optic cable across eight Northwest Alabama counties, including Marion, Lamar, and Fayette, bringing 1G and 10G internet speeds to more than 100,000 residents and businesses who previously had little or no broadband access.

The completion was celebrated by U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt, Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, and Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger at Tombigbee’s headquarters in Hamilton. Congressman Aderholt, who helped secure federal USDA ReConnect funding for the project, put it plainly: “Broadband is the electricity of the 21st century. Today, that mission has been accomplished.”

What this means for your business:

• 10G fiber service available to businesses and industrial parks throughout the region — speeds typically found only in major metro areas
• Locally operated and supported — customer service is based in Hamilton, Alabama, not a distant call center
• Redundant, resilient infrastructure — the network was engineered for long-term reliability and expansion
• Supports advanced manufacturing operations, remote workforce access, telemedicine, and technology-intensive businesses

Freedom FIBER is offered through Tombigbee Communications, a subsidiary of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative. Learn more at freedomfiber.com

Two providers serve the Northwest Alabama region, giving industrial prospects options based on location and load requirements.

Alabama Power

Alabama Power serves the majority of industrial sites in the region and is the primary provider for large industrial loads. Key facts for site selectors and industrial prospects:

• Rate stability through 2027: In December 2025, the Alabama Public Service Commission approved Alabama Power’s commitment to hold all regulated retail rate components steady through 2027 — a meaningful planning advantage at a time when energy costs are rising nationally.
• Industrial rate programs: Alabama Power offers specialized industrial rates, including incremental load rates for expanding operations. Large industrial users should contact Alabama Power’s economic development team directly for a custom rate analysis.
• Economic development support: Alabama Power’s economic development team works directly with site selectors and prospects at no cost.

Contact: 1-888-430-5787 (Business) | alabamapower.com

Tombigbee Electric Cooperative

Tombigbee Electric Cooperative provides electric service to approximately 10,000 homes and businesses in Marion and Lamar counties. As a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative headquartered in Hamilton, Tombigbee reinvests in the communities it serves. Tombigbee is also the parent organization of the Freedom FIBER broadband network — making it a uniquely integrated utility partner for businesses that want electric and fiber service from a single, locally accountable provider.

Contact: 205-921-6712 | tombigbee.org