KPUB employees proudly display the utility’s first Gold Public Power Customer Satisfaction Award at the American Public Power Association (APPA) Customer Connections Conference on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Pictured from left are Asha Ramirez, KPUB CSR Lead; Jo Anderson, KPUB Supervisor of Customer Service; Allison Bueche, KPUB Director of Customer & Community Relations; and DJ Owens, KPUB Energy Services Manager.
October 29, 2026—Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB) has earned three national awards from the American Public Power Association (APPA), recognizing outstanding customer satisfaction and excellence in public power communications.
This year’s honors include the Gold Public Power Customer Satisfaction Award, the highest level of recognition available, and two Awards of Excellence for communications highlighting KPUB’s response to the July 2026 Hill Country flood.
KPUB Earns Highest Customer Satisfaction Honor for First Time
For the fourth consecutive year, KPUB received APPA’s Public Power Customer Satisfaction Award, remaining the only Texas utility to earn the recognition every year since the program began in 2023.
This year, KPUB advanced from Silver to Gold with a 95% customer satisfaction rating, marking its first Gold distinction after three consecutive years at the Silver level. Only 19 public power utilities nationwide received a Customer Satisfaction Award in 2026, with just five earning Gold.
“Receiving this award for four consecutive years is a tremendous accomplishment, but reaching the Gold level for the first time makes this year’s recognition especially meaningful,” said Mike Wittler, KPUB General Manager & CEO. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team and our continued commitment to providing exceptional service to the community we serve.”
National Recognition for July 2026 Flood Communications
KPUB also earned two national Awards of Excellence in APPA’s 2026 Excellence in Public Power Communications competition for its communications following the July 2026 flood.
The awards included:
- Award of Excellence – Video: Recognizing A Fishing Line, a Drone & a Whole Lot of Teamwork, a behind-the-scenes video documenting an innovative power restoration effort.
- Award of Excellence – Web & Social Media: Recognizing KPUB’s flood-related communications, including customer updates and storytelling highlighting emergency response and restoration efforts.
The award-winning video documented how crews restored five power lines serving the City of Kerrville Water Plant after a barge damaged lines spanning the Guadalupe River during the flood. Working alongside James Power Line Construction and ASAP Roofing & Renovation, crews used a drone and fishing line to pull progressively larger ropes across the river, demonstrating the innovation and teamwork required to restore critical infrastructure.
“During the July flood, our employees faced extraordinary challenges and found creative solutions to restore power safely and efficiently,” Wittler added. “These awards recognize both our commitment to keeping customers informed and the exceptional work of our employees during a difficult time.”
APPA presented 55 communications awards nationwide in 2026, including nine to six Texas public power utilities.
These latest honors add to KPUB’s extensive record of national recognition for electric reliability, workplace safety, customer satisfaction, communications, energy efficiency, financial reporting, and workplace culture.
Recent achievements include APPA’s Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) Gold-Level designation, Smart Energy Provider (SEP) designation, and Diamond-Level Safety Award of Excellence. KPUB also earned a 2026 Top Workplace Award and six additional national workplace culture and industry awards.
Additionally, KPUB has received the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 32 consecutive years, reflecting its commitment to financial transparency and accountability.
Together, these achievements highlight KPUB’s continued commitment to excellence in public power and its dedication to providing safe, reliable, and affordable electric service while delivering exceptional value to the community it serves.