SDMEAHometown Power - Public Power

By Chris Hill, Director of Municipal Electric Services

PUBLIC POWER

Public Power. What does it mean to you? South Dakota has34municipalitiesthatowntheirownelectricalsystem. To put it simply, that means that the municipalities are responsible for the infrastructure within their city which includes everything from as large as a substation to as small as the meters on your house. Not all of the municipalitieshaveasubstation. Ifyourmunicipalitydoes not have a substation within the city, there is one fairly close and the power would be wheeled from that substation to your city. The Public Power community would also be responsible for the maintenance and upgrades to the system. Like anything else, upgrades cost moneyandyoumayseeaslightincreaseinyourelectrical bill.Well,somemightnoticeastheaveragepersonspends a total of 8 minutes per year looking at their utility bill.

Public Power is Bob Brattmiller and Jeff Honner

Public Power municipalities are responsible for providing reliable electricity at a rate that is set by the community members. ThemoreIlearnaboutpublicpowerthemoreI realize how much I didn’t know. I also became more aware of how many citizens of public power don’t even realizehowmuchofablessingitistohavethatpower.The average citizen doesn’t tend to care where the electricity comesfrom,theytendtobemoreconcernedofwhetheror not the lights turn on when they flip the switch. Some people might notice power lines, or new LED street lights while others are worried if their video games turn on.

Public Power is Chad Collins, Jameson Berreth, and Ashley Rentsch

Tome,PublicPowerismorethanallofthat. Yes,itclearly encompasseseverythingthatIjustmentioned. Maybeit’s more to me because my job depends on Public Power, but as I travel to the municipalities I can see it on the employees faces. They love their community, they love their job, and they are happy to be part of something that is bigger than one person. Sure, people complain sometimes,butiftheyareupsettheyhavethreeoptions.1. Complain more and see if it fixes the problem. 2. Move to the city that is perfect. 3. Be a person that helps your community to improve by being a positive leader. Sometimes we need to take a step back and realize how great our communities are. We choose to live in our great state. We choose to live in our wonderful cities.

Public Power week is October 7 through the 13th. Here are a pictures of South Dakota Public Power members!

Public Power is Adam Jans and Robbie Buller

Public Power is Josh Koeck and Hayden Herman Public Power is Eileen Sorsen, Vern Hill, and Jeanette Smith

Public Power is Kory Bauder, Jeff Schmeichel, Lornie Hach, Lori Hach, Mary Jamerson, and Francis Jamerson

So, Public Power is more than just a meter on your house. Its more than your new LED street light. Public Power is YOU,yourneighbor,andyourcommunity. Ichallengeall 5 of you that are reading this to take a look at your community and find the things that you first appreciated about your community. Re-discover what makes your HOMETOWNgreatandcontinuetobeapositivevoicein your city.

Questions? Comments? Email me at Chris@sdmunicipalleague.org Call Chris: 605-770-6299.

SOUTH DAKOTA BASIC CODE Affordable Codification for Small and Mid-Sized South Dakota Municipalities A comprehensive model code of ordinances for municipalities featuring: Subject matter encountered by municipalities Annual state law updates A comprehensive index and a title devoted to your unique local ordinances Published by American Legal and the South Dakota Municipal League For more information call or e-mail deRicci Getty at 1-800-445-5588 or dgetty@amlegal.com