To ensure you are being as efficient and conservative as possible in your energy spending, consider conducting an energy audit. This can be a valuable tool for understanding your energy usage and electric bill, plus identifying ways to reduce both.
FREE On-Site Home Energy Audit
KPUB offers a complimentary on-site home energy audit, which includes a professional contractor inspecting your residence and providing a written report making recommendations for improving its energy efficiency.
NEW Online Home Energy Audit
KPUB now offers a convenient online home energy audit that breaks down the energy usage of individual appliances, such as your television, washing machine, dryer, and HVAC unit. The results may surprise you and help you make smarter energy decisions.
KPUB’s online and on-site home energy audits are a free service available to our residential customers. Learn more or request your audit today online at kpub.com/ energyaudit. Questions? We are happy to help! Please contact us at 830.257.3050 or energy@kpub.com.
Energy-Efficient Home Rebates
Whether you are looking to replace an inefficient air conditioner or invest in a smart thermostat, our KPUB Energy Efficiency Rebate Program offers a variety of ways to help you reduce your energy usage and save money.
CEO CORNER
Your KPUB, Your Power
This is an exciting time for KPUB as we embark on the lengthy process of exploring the possibility of owning power generation. This strategic move has been a long-term consideration for several decades.
One of our power supply contracts, which provides a significant portion of our energy needs, expires in the next few years. With power demand rising and the Texas energy market becoming increasingly volatile, we believe owning generation would better position KPUB to maintain long-term, stable rates.
We are applying for funding from the Texas Energy Fund, which offers low-interest loans for constructing or upgrading dispatchable electric generating facilities within the ERCOT region. Our proposed project is a highly efficient natural gas-fired generation plant capable of operating at full capacity during extreme weather conditions.
KPUB already has some of the lowest rates in our region, and this project should help us ensure they remain competitive. Initial indications suggest that owning this generation facility would support lower rates for our customers versus continuing to purchase wholesale power from suppliers.
We are committed to engaging with our community as we explore our utility’s future power sources. KPUB will host two Power Hour presentations to provide an overview of this potential project on Thurs, 8/1, 9-10 a.m., or Thurs, 8/8, 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the KPUB Boardroom (RSVP required). Please visit kpub.com/power to take the survey, learn more about project plans or RSVP for the presentation.
As a public power utility company, KPUB makes decisions based on the best interests of our customers. We highly value your input because this organization is communityowned—we are your KPUB and your power.
Mike Wittler KPUB General Manager & CEO
KPUB Plugged Into Our Community
Photos: L to R: 1st row, KPUB at Tally Elementary’s Career Day, 3/8; KPUB Volunteering with Meals on Wheels, 3/22; 2nd row, KPUB Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, 4/25; Volunteering at a local food pantry event, 4/29; 3rd row, Big Truck Story Time Event at the Library, 5/4; KPUB Weatherization Event, 5/11; KPUB donating box fans to the Salvation Army, 6/7; 4th row, KPUB Volunteering at the Riverside Nature Center, 6/7; KPUB Community Blood Drive, 6/20; New transformer box artwork along the Parking Garage in partnership with Big Seed & a public art project.
KPUB Awards $16,000 in Scholarships
As a community-owned utility company, powering a better education and investing in the future of our youth is important to KPUB. Since 2013, KPUB has proudly awarded over $120,000 to deserving seniors in our service area to help make their college dreams a reality.
KPUB is pleased to announce that four local seniors, Lucas Green (Tivy High School), Manami (Ally) Dolley (Tivy High School), Abel Luna (Ingram Tom Moore High School) and Gael Cruces (Tivy High School), are the utility’s 2024 scholarship recipients.
KPUB WELCOMES TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS
KPUB is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its board of trustees. Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. and Rachel Johnston were sworn in to serve as trustees during KPUB’s May board meeting. We also extend our gratitude to outgoing board members Mark Cowden and former Mayor Judy Eychner for their dedicated service.
KPUB is overseen by a five-member board of trustees; four are appointed by the Kerrville City Council, with the Mayor serving as an ex-officio voting member. The trustees are responsible to the City of Kerrville for the management and control of the system. KPUB’s other current members of its board of trustees are Larry Howard, chairman; Bill Thomas, vice-chairman; and Glenn Andrew, secretary.
Photos: Four graduating seniors were awarded scholarships at KPUB’s May and June Board Meetings. Photo #1: Pictured from left to right are Lucas Green (Tivy High School), Manami (Ally) Dolley (Tivy High School), Abel Luna (Ingram Tom Moore High School), Larry Howard (KPUB Board of Trustee Chairman) and Allison Bueche (KPUB Director of Customer & Community Relations).
Photo #2: Pictured from left to right are Larry Howard (KPUB Board of Trustee Chairman) and Gael Cruces (Tivy High School).
KPUB Honored with
Two Prestigious National Awards
KPUB is honored to have received two distinguished awards from the American Public Power Association (APPA) this year: the Safety Award of Excellence in the diamond category and the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)® designation at the gold level.
APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.
More than 160 utilities nationwide entered APPA’s annual Safety Awards. Entrants were placed in categories and ranked based on the most incident-free records and the overall state of their safety programs and culture during 2023. This marks the fifth time in the past six years that KPUB has been recognized with this prestigious award.
KPUB’s RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. KPUB joins more than 250 public power utilities nationwide that currently hold the RP3 designation, and it’s the third consecutive time that KPUB has been nationally recognized for this accomplishment.
KPUB Graduates Three New Linemen from its Apprenticeship Program
Congratulations to Joseph Buenrostro, Nathaniel Crabtree and Justin Martinez for recently completing our apprenticeship program and officially becoming KPUB linemen.
KPUB’s Apprenticeship Program, which is recognized by the Department of Labor, spans four years. To become a lineman, apprentices must complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of bookwork on their own time. Upon completion, graduates receive a certification that they carry throughout their careers. Since the program’s inception, KPUB has graduated 29 linemen.
Photos: KPUB’s recent apprenticeship graduates: 1st row: Joseph Buenrostro (center), 2nd row: Nathaniel Crabtree (center), and 3rd row: Justin Martinez (center), pictured with KPUB Safety & Training Supervisor, David Burley (left) and KPUB General Foreman, Larry Lee (right).
830.257.3050 | KPUB.COM
2250 Memorial Blvd
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Power Hour at KPUB: Your KPUB, Your Power
EXPLORING OUR ENERGY PORTFOLIO & GENERATION FUTURE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2024 | 9 A.M. – 10 A.M. OR THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2024 | 5:30 P.M. – 6:30 P.M.
KPUB BOARDROOM | RSVP REQUIRED
Hear more about our rates, how power supply decisions are made and potential power generation plans. Learn more at kpub.com/power. RSVP to abueche@kpub.com or 830.257.3050. Save the Date! KPUB Bucket Truck Ride Event
KPUB Community Blood Drive
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2024
9 A.M. – 2 P.M.
By appointment only. Sign up now to help save lives! Learn more at kpub.com/blooddrive.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2024 10 A.M. – 1 P.M.
Join us for a free community event in Louise Hays Park in honor of Public Power Week. We will have family-friendly activities that include taking a ride in one of KPUB’s bucket trucks, arc and spark demos, lineworker tool displays, photo ops with our linemen, face painting and more.
Learn more about KPUB’s Public Power Week activities at kpub.com/publicpowerweek.
