SOLAR FIELD -- Bryan Municipal Utilities is preparing for an open house on Tuesday, October 9, at its new solar generation plant located just west of Bryan on State Route 34. Utility employees and David Designs, of Bryan, worked together to make a new sign. Pictured are BMU employees, from left, Justin Rupp, lineworker; Steve Casebere, director of utilities; and Kyle Robinett, lineworker.

October 1, 2012

BMU celebrates Public Power Week, hosts open house at new solar field

By LOU PENDLETON

Bryan Municipal Utilities is celebrating Public Power Week, Oct. 7-13, along with more than 2,000 other community-owned electric utilities across the U.S. that provide electricity on a not-for-profit basis.

“Public Power Week is a chance for Bryan Municipal Utilities to communicate why the public power formula works in Bryan. We are absolutely dedicated to providing top-notch service and the lowest rates possible,” said Steve Casebere, director of utilities.

• To celebrate Public Power Week, Bryan Municipal Utilities invites community members to attend an Open House at the new Bryan Solar Field, Tuesday, October 9, from 2 to 6:30 p.m., located at 12488 State Route 34, just west of Bryan.
• Visitors will be able to tour the new solar field and learn how it works to generate power for Bryan. In addition, BMU will serve up hot dogs from the grill and fresh apple cider.

“We are anxious to have Bryan residents see the new solar power facility and learn how this renewable energy source works for Bryan,” Casebere said. “We know how vital electricity, water and communications are for the people of Bryan, and we continue to find ways to deliver those services reliably, safely and with special attention to the environment.”

Bryan Municipal Utilities began 120 years ago with the establishment of the Bryan waterworks in 1892. Electric service was added in 1896 when the residents of Bryan voted to create their own electric company. Communications services were added in 1998 to provide Bryan with a fiber optic system for cable television, high-speed Internet access and data transfer.

Today Bryan Municipal Utilities has 45 employees and serves approximately 5,000 residential customers and 750 commercial and industrial customers. Public Power Week is a national, annual event sponsored in conjunction with the American Public Power Association in Washington, D.C. APPA is the service organization for community- and state-owned electric utilities.