To the editor:

Did you know, if you live in New Ulm, you are served by a locally owned and operated electric utility? This week, we celebrate Public Power Week, a time to highlight the value of community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities. Public power communities, like New Ulm, offer five distinct advantages.

Accountability and transparency means citizens participate in the governance of the utility at the ballot box and through city council meetings. Utility business is conducted in the open, subject to open meetings, public records laws and local scrutiny.

Public power utilities provide financial support for local government, a direct benefit to their communities in the form of payments and contributions. Many utilities make in-kind contributions to the city in the form of free or reduced-cost services such as street lighting and electricity usage at city facilities including pools, parks and municipal offices.

Public power utilities provide more efficient municipal operations, keeping costs down through local scrutiny of operations. Oversight of the utility is local which keeps it focused on reliability, price and service.

Public power utilities tailor policies, programs and practices to serve the priorities of the local community. Decisions are made at the local level and reflect the values and choices of the community.

Public power utilities are owned by you, the citizens they serve, which means local management and control over decisions.

Heartland Energy provides wholesale power to New Ulm Public Utilities. We are also proud to partner on a variety of programs and services to help the community thrive.

Cities like New Ulm are fortunate the leaders before them had the foresight to invest in the enduring success of their community by creating a public power utility.

Russell Olson, CEO

Heartland Energy