News

An Investment in Clarksdale’s Future

For nearly 130 years, Clarksdale Public Utilities has been part of the fabric of this community. Through changing times, changing technology and changing needs, our responsibility has remained the same: providing the essential services our customers depend on every day.

As a locally owned utility, CPU is different from many utilities across the country. We belong to the people we serve. That creates a responsibility that goes beyond providing electric, water and wastewater services. We have a responsibility to make decisions that serve the long-term interests of our customers and our community.

When people think about CPU, they understandably think about what happens when they turn on a light, turn on a faucet or flush a toilet. They expect those services to be reliable. That expectation is one we take seriously.

Today, CPU is making important investments in our infrastructure, equipment, technology and people. Some of that work is highly visible. Much of it happens out of sight. But all of it is focused on strengthening the systems that serve our customers and preparing CPU for the future.

Our electric system requires continuous investment. Equipment must be maintained, upgraded and, when necessary, replaced. The same is true for our water and wastewater systems, much of which is underground and rarely seen by the customers who depend on it.

When these systems work as they should, they can easily be taken for granted. But maintaining them is one of our most important responsibilities. We are addressing aging infrastructure, improving reliability and making investments that will serve Clarksdale for years to come. We are also looking for ways to improve the customer experience.

Good utility service means more than keeping the lights on and the water flowing. It means being responsive when customers need us, communicating clearly and making it easier for customers to access information and manage their accounts. Technology provides new opportunities to do that, and we will continue looking for ways to make our services more accessible and convenient.

None of this happens without the people of CPU.

Providing essential utility services requires skilled employees who understand our systems, our community and the responsibility that comes with serving both. I am proud of the men and women who come to work each day committed to doing that job well.

The work underway at CPU is ultimately about more than infrastructure. It is about Clarksdale.

Reliable utility service is essential to a community’s future. Businesses need dependable infrastructure to operate and grow. New investment requires confidence in the systems that support it. And residents deserve services they can count on.

We also recognize our responsibility to be good stewards of our customers’ money. Infrastructure ages. Equipment must be replaced. Regulations change. Severe weather can test our systems and our people. These challenges require us to make thoughtful decisions and invest responsibly.

But we cannot afford to stand still.

The work we are doing today is part of CPU’s ongoing commitment to adapt, improve and meet the changing needs of the community we serve.

We have important work ahead, and we intend to keep moving forward—with our customers, and for Clarksdale.

Curtis D. Boschert
General Manager, Clarksdale Public Utilities