Many American cities have their own municipal power systems, but none has had to withstand the kind of sustained and often bitter struggle over its existence as Cleveland. After reviewing the debate over municipal power in a number of US cities, the authors trace the conflict between public and private power systems in Cleveland over the past 90 years. The economic, legal, and political aspects of public v. private municipal power are reviewed and analyzed. The authors suggest that the Cleveland experience may provide guidance to other cities currently considering the establishment of their own municipal power systems.