Public Power Week: Powering More Than Electricity

When most people think about electricity, they think about flipping a switch and having the lights come on. But during Public Power Week, Brookings Municipal Utilities (BMU) is celebrating something much bigger than electricity itself.

Public power is about people.

It is the reliable energy that keeps homes comfortable, businesses operating, schools learning, and essential services running every day. It is affordable power that puts community needs ahead of profits. Most importantly, it is a local service provided by local people who are invested in the success of Brookings.

As a community-owned utility, BMU is governed by local residents who understand the needs and priorities of the community. Decisions are made here in Brookings, by people who live, work, raise families, and build businesses here.

Unlike investor-owned utilities, public power utilities are not driven by shareholder returns. Revenue generated by BMU stays in the community, helping maintain and improve the infrastructure that residents depend on while supporting reliable service for future generations.

That commitment is often most visible during challenging conditions. Whether restoring service after severe weather, maintaining critical infrastructure, or planning for future growth, BMU employees work around the clock to ensure customers have safe and reliable power.

Public power also brings long-term value to the community. Through investments in electric, water, and wastewater systems, BMU helps support economic development, public health, and quality of life throughout Brookings. These investments help ensure that the infrastructure serving residents today will continue meeting the community's needs tomorrow.

During Public Power Week, BMU encourages residents to take a moment to recognize the people behind the power. The lineworkers, operators, engineers, customer service representatives, technicians, and support staff who work every day to keep essential services running often do so behind the scenes, but their efforts make a difference in the lives of everyone in the community.

Public power is more than electricity. It is local ownership. It is community investment. It is dependable service. And above all, it is people serving people.

This Public Power Week, BMU is proud to celebrate the power of community and the employees, board members, and customers who make public power possible.

Because when your utility is locally owned, every connection is personal.

Click the link below for our Public Power Week coloring sheet!