The American Public Power Association and its members will celebrate this year’s Public Power Week from Oct. 6 to October 12. This year’s theme for Public Power Week is “Pride in Public Power.”
For more than 30 years, APPA and its members have celebrated Public Power Week during the first full week of October.
The event sets aside a full week to highlight the unique attributes and benefits of the nearly 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities that together provide electricity to 54 million Americans.
“The theme this year is "Pride in Public Power" and the mutual aid mobilization to address the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene gives us much to be proud of. As we’ve seen before, the public power response to this storm has been overwhelming, with more than 500 personnel descending on the affected regions from 14 states," said APPA President and CEO Scott Corwin. "Please join me in thanking all the crews who have left their homes and families to help restore power in affected communities and continue restoration efforts in the most devastated areas of the Southeast."
Public Power Week Resources for APPA Members
APPA members can avail themselves of the resources and templates APPA provides to co-brand, spread the word, and help celebrate in their communities.
Visit APPA’s Promoting Public Power page to view these resources for 2024, including videos, press release templates, sample op-eds, sample proclamations for local governments, coloring sheets, social media graphics, and Public Power Week logos.
This year’s theme -- “Pride in Public Power” – showcases how public power utilities are proud to be sustainable, service-oriented, affordable, and reliable, as well as proud to:
- Serve communities
- Provide local jobs
- Boost local economies
During Public Power Week, publicly owned utilities find special ways to celebrate with their communities, including parades, barbecues, festivals, bucket truck rides, safety demonstrations, community service projects, and customer appreciation events.
Public Power Week is focused on the customers and communities served by public power utilities across 49 states and all U.S. territories. Efforts also reach local, state, and regional government officials, as well as local media and community influencers.
Participating utilities have represented communities of varying sizes, from small towns such as Princeton, Minnesota, with fewer than 5,000 people, to small cities like Richmond, Indiana, and Lakeland, Florida, to large cities like Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles, California, to far-flung U.S. territories like Guam.
Public Power Activities Planned for During This Year’s Public Power Week
The different ways that utilities celebrate Public Power Week demonstrate each community's unique and highly localized preferences.
This local focus is at the core of the history and creation of public power – local communities choosing to take control of their economic future by providing electric service.
California public power utility Pasadena Water & Power uses Public Power Week to educate and celebrate public power with its community through various family-friendly activities and events.
Opportunities such as storybook reading and touch-a-truck events with linemen give children a chance to learn about electricity in an engaging way and meet PWP staff face-to-face.
Texas public power utility Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB) is celebrating 37 years of serving its community.
This year, KPUB is inviting its community for Power Hour, an informative session on the advantages of having a public power utility in communities and insight into future power generation plans.
Following the session, participants have the unique opportunity to take a guided tour of the KPUB community solar fields. Additional details on these and other Public Power Week activities are available on the utility’s website.
Many utilities use Public Power Week to show appreciation to their customers and host donation events or giveaways to give back to the community.
North Carolina’s Wake Forest Power will offer the opportunity for community members to win free electricity in October by participating in Public Power Week-themed Trivia, filled with utility-themed questions, or donating non-perishable foods to a local food pantry.
