Community Report
CEO CORNER
Powering a Brighter Future
Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB) is proud to reflect on another year of remarkable milestones and achievements. From earning prestigious awards and maintaining some of the lowest outage times in the electric utility industry to surpassing three years without a lost-time work injury and investing in innovative, energy-efficient technology, we remain steadfast in our commitment to serving our community. In the fall, we joined communities from across the country to provide mutual aid in Georgia and Florida to help restore power following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
One of our most significant accomplishments this year has been advancing our plans to own a power generation facility—a long-term vision for KPUB. With a major power contract set to expire in two years and increasing volatility in the energy market, securing a reliable and stable energy solution for our customers has become a top priority.
Our proposed reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) plant was selected as a finalist in the Texas Energy Fund (TEF) In-ERCOT Loan Program, an initiative to enhance grid reliability across Texas. Out of 72 applicants, KPUB was one of only 16 projects chosen to advance and the sole municipally-owned project.
Guided by research, financial modeling, and community input, this project aligns with KPUB’s mission to provide reliable, low-cost power. Although the proposed plant will be located outside our service area due to infrastructure constraints, its benefits will directly support our community by powering a brighter future and offering greater rate protection against market volatility. We believe this initiative will solidify KPUB’s position as a leader in providing low-cost, reliable service across Texas. For more details on our proposed generation project, visit kpub.com/power.
Mike Wittler KPUB General Manager & CEO
Our Public Power Story
The Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB) was acquired by the City of Kerrville in 1987. Today, KPUB serves more than 24,000 customers throughout our 146 square mile service area, including Kerrville, Center Point, Ingram, Hunt and surrounding areas in Kerr County.
Powering a Better Community
Through these efforts and more, we proudly cared for our Kerrville area community:
KPUB Change for Charity Program:
Provided more than $75,000 in bill payment assistance to 572 families (in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul)
Community Blood Drives:
Hosted four events, collecting 96+ units of blood—saving up to 288 lives
Community Support:
Invested in over 50 local events, nonprofits and schools with financial and in-kind resources
Scholarships:
Awarded $16,000 to four graduating seniors in our service area
Community Volunteer Projects
• Helped distribute 292,000+ pounds of food at 8 mobile food pantry events (feeding more than 3,000 local families)
• Assembled the community courthouse Christmas tree & hung 140 street ornaments
24,000+ customers served
MISSION
64 employees
146 square-mile service area
686 miles of power lines
KPUB is a responsive and efficient, locally-owned provider of safe and reliable utility service at the lowest responsible price.
Local Control
As a community-owned, not-for-profit electric utility, KPUB operates with local control. A five-member board of trustees, appointed by the Kerrville City Council, oversees KPUB and serves without compensation. Community-owned utilities are highly responsive to customers’ needs & concerns because we don’t answer to shareholders—we answer to our customers!
2024 KPUB Board of Trustees
• Assisted with the UGRA Annual River Cleanup and a Habitat for Humanity home
• Volunteered at the Riverside Nature Center, Kerrville Triathlon and Meals on Wheels
• Supported the Salvation Army with Thanksgiving meal preparations and participated in their bellringing fundraising efforts
Answering the call for help with mutual aid
In September and October 2024, KPUB linemen provided mutual aid to Moultrie, GA; Fitzgerald, GA; and Lakeland, FL, for 23 days following Hurricanes Helene and Milton to help them get the lights back on.
Serving Our Customers
93.6% average customer satisfaction survey rating in 2024 (up 0.7%).
*source, GreatBlue Research
2,900+ customers start electric service
Helped
Answered
34,000+ phone calls to assist our community
Bill Thomas Vice Chairman Glenn Andrew Secretary
Rachel Johnston Treasurer
Joe Herring, Jr. Mayor of Kerrville
Larry Howard Chairman
Performed 52 in-person home energy audits • Facilitated 1,672 online home energy audits • Emailed 20,061 energy education videos
KPUB’s rates are 40% lower
KPUB is proud to be recognized for excellence in serving our community through the following awards and achievements:
2024 APPA Public Power Customer Satisfaction Award (2nd year in a row)
For providing outstanding service to our Kerrville area customers.
2024-2026 APPA Smart Energy Program (SEP) Award (New) For offering innovative, energy-efficient programs and solutions to help customers save energy and money.
2024 APPA Safety Award of Excellence Diamond-Level Designation For outstanding safe operating practices.
2024-2027 APPA Reliable Public Power Provider Gold-Level Designation (3rd consecutive time)
Recognizing proficiency in reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement.
2024 APPA Mutual Aid Commendation
Honored for our dedicated power restoration efforts supporting Lakeland Electric in Florida.
The American Public Power Association (APPA) represents over 2,000 not-forprofit, community-owned utilities that power towns and cities nationwide.
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (31 years in a row!)
Awarded for KPUB’s FY 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).
2024 Top Workplace Award (2nd year in a row)
Recognized as a top workplace by the San Antonio Express-News for fostering a positive work culture.
October 2024 Kerrville Kindness Award
Honored by the Kerrville City Council for our linemen’s exceptional power restoration efforts in Georgia and Florida after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
830.257.3050 | KPUB.COM
Reliability and System Investments
KPUB works 24/7 to keep the lights on safely and reliably for our community.
Key 2024 accomplishments include:
Utility Pole Replacements: Completed 85 pole replacements for reliability and outage prevention.
System Investments: Completed multiple projects, including distribution line upgrades west of our Harper Substation and in the Kerrville south area to improve service reliability.
Tree Trimming: Completed 384 tree trimming requests and dedicated 375 hours to clearing vegetation in the field to reduce outages and safety hazards.
System Inspections:
Inspected 63% of our service area by patrolling 162 miles of power lines for reliability and outage prevention.
Performed 9,712 visual meter inspections to ensure safety, reliability and outage prevention.
“God bless your incredibly hardworking, polite and respectful linemen who restored power to my neighborhood in Lakeland, Florida, after Hurricane Milton. Though I’m a proud Floridian, I was born in Abilene, Texas. God truly BLESSED both Texas and Florida with your team’s kind and generous assistance. Thank you!”
—Elizabeth
Bailey, Lakeland, Florida