JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi's largest private utility plans to more than double spending on energy efficiency next year.

The Public Service Commission Tuesday voted 2-1 for Entergy Mississippi to increase spending to $8.75 million in 2017 from $3.75 million this year.

Southern District Commissioner Sam Britton, a Republican, voted against the measure, saying he opposes subsidies to individual utility customers.

Entergy Mississippi in 2017 aims to spread efficient light bulbs and residential appliances and cut small business power use, among other goals.

Entergy Mississippi is a unit of New Orleans-based Entergy Corp.,

In 2013, the commission ordered gas and electrical utilities with more than 25,000 customers to develop efficiency plans.