September 28, 2021—The Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB) is preparing to kick off Public Power Week—a week fully dedicated to celebrating the substantial benefits of having a public power utility in our community— on October 3-9, 2021!
Some of the most notable benefits of public power are local control, reliable service and competitive, low rates. As a community-owned utility company, decisions about how our utility is run and operated are made right here in Kerrville.
KPUB isn’t motivated by profits because the utility company doesn’t answer to shareholders—instead, we answer to our customers. At KPUB, we work every day to provide our community with reliable power, competitively priced rates and world-class service.
“This has been quite an eventful year—from the ERCOT events, to historical storms and an ongoing pandemic,” said Mike Wittler, KPUB General Manager & CEO. “We salute our employees for their dedication to customer service, and we thank our community for allowing us to serve them each day.”
KPUB’s public power story began in 1987 when the City of Kerrville purchased the electric distribution system from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) to put the power back in the hands of local citizens. Prior to that, our community’s power had been generated and sold by companies headquartered outside of Kerr County for 62 years.
This December will mark 34 years of KPUB being Kerrville’s community-owned, not-for-profit electric utility company. Today, KPUB has 51 employees, nine substations, four community solar systems and six electric vehicle (EV) charging stations that serve more than 23,000 customers across its 146 square mile service area.
KPUB invites the community to celebrate Public Power Week by participating in our KPUB Open House on October 7 or Bucket Truck Ride Event on October 9.
Slated activities will include:
• An Open House at KPUB hosted on Thursday, October 7, in conjunction with National LED Day! Customers are invited to stop by our KPUB Lobby between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. for light refreshments, giveaways and an opportunity to enter to win a smart Nest thermostat with installation included, plus a free HVAC system inspection and tune up.
Giveaways will include a free LED light bulb, energy-saving materials, 2022 KPUB calendar and children’s activities. Additionally, free home weatherization kits will be available to the first 50 customers. KPUB will draw for the smart thermostat winner at its bucket truck event on October 9.
• Bucket Truck Ride Event at Louise Hays Park hosted on Saturday, October 9, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. This will be a free community event with family-friendly activities that will include taking a ride in one of KPUB’s bucket trucks, arc & spark demos, line worker tool displays, photo ops with our linemen, face painting and more. KPUB will be providing free hot dogs, chips, snow cones from Kona Ice and refreshments on a first-come, first-serve basis, as well as a free t-shirt for the first 100 attendees.
For more information on Public Power Week and event activities, please visit kpub.com/publicpowerweek. For questions, contact KPUB at 830.257.3050.
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About KPUB
The Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB) was acquired by the City of Kerrville in 1987. KPUB serves approximately 23,000 customers throughout a 146 square mile service area, including Kerrville, Center Point, Ingram, Hunt, and surrounding areas in Kerr County.
KPUB is overseen by a five-member board of trustees who serve without compensation and who are responsible to the City of Kerrville for the management and control of the system. KPUB is a responsive and efficient locally-owned provider of reliable, high-quality utility service at the lowest responsible price.
About APPA & Public Power Week
Public Power Week is an annual national observance coordinated by the American Public Power Association. The American Public Power Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. The Association represents public power before the federal government to protect the interests of the more than 49 million people that public power utilities serve and the 93,000 people they employ. It advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations. Its members strengthen their communities by providing superior service, engaging citizens, and instilling pride in community-owned power. More at www.PublicPower.org.