Thirty-eight years ago, the American Public Power Association (APPA) established Public Power Week to celebrate the efforts of local utility companies. The celebration takes place annually in the first full week of October and is a great opportunity for utility groups to show their appreciation for their communities and educate them on the benefits of local power.
This year, our Michigan municipal utilities spent the week engaging with local students and hosting family events. The week was full of generous giveaways, school-sanctioned activities, and festive open houses.
Here are some highlights from Public Power Week celebrations around Michigan! Check out Currents Magazine for more in-depth coverage.
Interest in Public Power Starts Young
A great way to engage an entire community is to target its youngest members. When kids get excited about something, their energy is nothing short of contagious!
Power-ful Coloring Contests
Local utilities partnered with elementary schools in their communities to host coloring contests for students to learn about public power in a fun, interactive way.
The contests were open to multiple grade levels and awarded one grand prize winner per community. Winners received special goodies, such as gift cards, goodie bags, and a feature in Currents magazine.
Take a look at some of these talented students and their creations!
School Visits
Local utility workers stopped by elementary classrooms in Coldwater, MI and Traverse City, MI to teach impressionable minds about Public Power. Students got to learn about electrical safety by participating in hands-on learning and watching interactive presentations.
Celebrating with the Whole Community
Public Power Week didn’t end at the classroom doorways. Festivals and giveaways in Grand Haven, Lowell, and Zeeland involved entire families. Each town celebrated a little differently but all had one thing in common– an appreciation for the families that enjoy Public Power.
Events included multiple giveaways and a chance to enter a drawing for the grand prize giveaway – a Google Nest Smart Thermostat (Grand Haven Board of Light & Power), a free pumpkin decorating event and PowerFest with live utility pole climbing and turbine generator demonstrations (Lowell Light & Power), and a Public Power open house and the Van de Graaff generator (Zeeland Board of Public Works).
Community Power Beyond Our Own Neighborhoods
Like most everyday pleasures, it can be hard to appreciate the convenience of working power until it’s gone. Our local utilities work tirelessly to ensure we never have to go without power for too long.
Hurricane Milton stripped this everyday resource away from millions. Members of the Michigan Public Power Agency jumped into action and 36 volunteers from seven utilities across the state traveled south to help restore power after the storm ravaged communities in Florida. This “mutual aid” coordinated by the Michigan Municipal Electric Association and its partnership with the American Public Power Association is an amazing part of Public Power’s fabric.
A Well-Deserved Celebration for Community-Owned Power
Community-owned power has a unique way of bringing a community closer together. Public Power Week and mutual aid in support of those impacted by Hurricane Milton are great examples of this.
Local utility workers constantly work behind the scenes to keep our families safe and comfortable. Next time you meet a utility worker in your community, be sure to thank them for their work.