NTUA Revenue and Competitors

Since 1959, NTUA has supplied electricity, water, natural gas, wastewater treatment, and photovoltaic (solar power) services to residents throughout the 26,000 square-mile Navajo Nation, which spreads across northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah. NTUA does not generate electricity. Instead, NTUA purchases electrical power from outside companies such as Tucson Electric power and the Western Area Power Administration. This purchased electrical power is transmitted to the Navajo Nation and distributed to homes and business through a vast network of power-lines. NTUA serves more than 50,000 electric customers, 33,000 water, 13,000 waste water customers, and 7,000 natural gas customers. The tribal utility authority operates under a tariff rate and takes pride in having one of the lowest electricity rates throughout the western United States. Even as NTUA works hard to meet the basic utility needs of the Navajo Nation , the region continues to suffer from the lack of access to electricity and other basic infrastructure needs. An estimated 18,000 homes throughout the Navajo Nation are without utility services. As a non-profit enterprise, NTUA receives federal loans to extend electrical power to rural communities. NTUA also provides assistance to tribal agencies and tribal communities to obtain federal grants to address utility needs. What money NTUA generates is returned to maintain and upgrade utility services.