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CPU and Clarksdale Celebrate Public Power Week Oct. 4-10

Customer ownership means more community focus and local control

Clarksdale residents gain several benefits from being served by a publicly owned utility, such as low rates, high reliability, customer responsiveness, economic development and local control. During Public Power Week Oct. 4-10, Clarksdale Public Utilities will join more than 2,000 other not-for-profit electric utilities across the nation in promoting the advantages of public-power communities.

“CPU belongs to the people we serve — our customers,” said Curtis D. Boschert, CPU general manager. “The utilities we provide have been powering Clarksdale for more than 120 years, and public ownership has been a major part of our success and longevity. We consider it a privilege to serve our customers’ needs with reliable, low-cost electric and water services that help our community thrive and contribute to our quality of life.”

Being a responsible steward of public resources means investing in the people, technology and equipment needed to keep reliability high and rates as low as possible. Since launching the “Bright Future” initiative last year, CPU has been building on its legacy of service by focusing on customer service improvements, technology investments and community support.

Year-round tree-trimming and preventive maintenance have paid off with excellent reliability, and CPU customers pay some of the lowest electric rates in Mississippi when compared to similarly sized utilities. CPU’s water and wastewater operations comply with all state and federal safety, health and environmental regulations.

Providing uninterrupted service means being prepared 24/7 to respond to emergencies. That commitment was put to the test in April when storms caused widespread outages throughout Clarksdale. As soon as skies cleared, CPU’s line workers sprang into action to restore service quickly, safely and professionally.

At the time, CPU also had adopted new safe-work practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. When financial effects of pandemic began to be felt locally, CPU made a commitment to work with customers experiencing financial difficulties to ensure their accounts remain active.

CPU is always looking for opportunities to improve and increase services. From providing energy-efficiency tips to help lower bills to offering new account tools that maximize control and convenience, CPU is working to ensure customers get the best value from their local utility.

“Customers are at the heart of what we do,” Boschert said. “We are proud to serve the community we call home. Count on us to continue our daily efforts to exceed expectations through our commitments as Clarksdale’s locally owned utility provider.”

Clarksdale Public Utilities is a municipally owned utility serving approximately 6,800 homes and businesses in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Its mission is to safely provide sustainable electric, water and wastewater services in a reliable and courteous manner by well-trained team members, committed to top quality, efficient operations, competitive rates and the vitality of the community.