This book investigates the historical drivers and economic implications of municipal ownership within the electric utility industry. David Schap, an economist, utilizes a longitudinal analysis of the industry from 1882 to 1981 to identify the specific factors that influenced the entry and exit of municipal power providers. The work provides a structured framework for understanding how government intervention has shaped the development of public utilities over the course of a century.

Experts recognize this work as a detailed historical record of public utility management and government intervention. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a specialized resource for students of economic history and public policy.