(KANSAS CITY, Kan.) — The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is celebrating Public Power Week, Oct. 3-9, along with more than 2,000 other community-powered, not-for-profit electric utilities that collectively provide electricity to 49 million Americans. The intent is to help customers and the community better understand the role a public utility plays, and the unique programs and offerings BPU provides.
Today, the utility and its employees serve approximately 65,000 electric customers, while maintaining 3,000 miles of electric lines, 29 substations, 9,000 traffic signal heads, 19,000 streetlights, power stations, and the radio system for first responders such as fire, police, ambulance, and sheriff. Despite challenges over the last year, the utility and its employees have worked hard to keep the community up and running with energy and electricity 24 hours a day seven days a week, just as it has for more than 100 years.
In recent years, BPU has worked aggressively to diversify its energy generation capabilities, shifting more toward renewable energy sources like wind, hydropower, landfill gas, and solar. Today, 48% of BPU’s energy comes from carbon-free renewable energy, helping make BPU one of the “greenest” public utilities in the nation. This includes BPU’s Community Solar Farm, which was the first municipal solar farm in the state of Kansas. Located in Wyandotte County, it allows residential and commercial customers that want to use solar energy, access to this sustainable resource from one central location, making it affordable and accessible for all. Each of its 3,700 PV panels is capable of eliminating 12 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), the equivalent of planting 278 trees, or reducing single auto emissions of 23,500 miles, or recycling 37 tons of waste versus placing it in a landfill.
In addition, BPU is only one of a few utilities nationally to consistently receive the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation from the American Public Power Association (APPA) for its operations and commitment to excellence. It has also been recognized on multiple occasions for its educational and community service outreach efforts.
To learn more about all the unique programs, services, and tools BPU provides to its customers and the community, including its on-going commitment to customer service, environmental stewardship, social responsibility, safety, and reliability, check out the BPU website at www.BPU.com, or follow them on social media.
Public Power Week is an annual national observance coordinated by the American Public Power Association (APPA). APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. Its members strengthen their communities by providing superior service, engaging citizens, and instilling pride in community-owned power. More at publicpower.org