Electric Department

The Electric Department was established in 1896 to provide electricity to the Village of Portland. Its function is to provide low cost electricity to Portland and Portland Township safely and reliably. It operates and maintains a Diesel Generator Plant, Hydro Plant, sub-stations and overhead / underground power lines, plus all trucks and equipment to accomplish this. It helps attract residential homes / business / industry to the area using low cost energy. Maintaining and installing street lights saves taxpayers money as well as making the community safe and attractive after dark.

Electric Service



The Electric Department is open Monday - Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If you need assistance regarding a power outage please call the Electric Department at 517-647-6912 or City Hall at 517-647-3205 (Monday- Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

If you need assistance regarding a power outage after normal business hours please call Ionia County Central Dispatch at 616-527-0400.

​Broadband Internet

In 2018, The City of Portland, through the Board of Light and Power, began exploring the possibility of providing broadband internet services to our residents and electric customers. The market appeared to be under-served and over the years residents often complained about existing internet service providers and the lack of options. That said, the City conducted a broadband infrastructure feasibility study and statistically valid survey among our residents to validate this apparent need. In October of 2019, the City Council approved the next step which was to create an executable project plan (EPP). This process takes several months and involves engineering and designing the network which ultimately provides a truer cost estimate.  The EPP was originally scheduled to be completed in April 2020, but due to the coronavirus, the project was suspended. The EPP process eventually resumed and the findings were presented to City Council at its public meeting on September 8, 2020.

Should you have any questions, please contact the City Manager, Tutt Gorman at (517) 647-2931 or Email

Pulse Broadband Feasibility Study   
EPP & Financial Model


broadband clipart

Energy Smart LogoEnergy Smart Program

The City of Portland offers several Energy Smart Programs to its customers. To find the programs available to you, along with the links to download rebate applications click here.

​Elective Renewable Energy



Renewable energy is electricity that comes from sources that produce little or no emissions by using resources that replenish themselves by using resources that replenish themselves naturally, such as wind, sunlight, biomass (agricultural waste), geothermal, waves and landfill gas.

​You can contribute to making our community a greener place by choosing to have a portion of your electricity generated by renewable sources at a cost of $.01 per kwh. The Board of Light & Power is now offering elective renewable energy for all customers.

Click here to enroll in this program.


Related Documents

  1. 2012 Energy Optimization Annual Report (PDF)
  2. 2012 Renewable Energy Annual Report (PDF)
  3. Kilowatt per Hour Usage Chart (PDF)