Tooting the Public Power HornMeena Dayak, American Public Power Association

Erica Manuel, SMUD

Erica Peden, Athens Utilities Board

Michael Shepard, Ruralite Services

MEENA DAYAKAmerican Public Power Association

9 minutes a year

Only 1 in 5 public power customers

under 55 knows that their utility

is community-owned and not-for-profit.

Competition is all around

City may want to privatize

Other utility may want to buy you out

Third parties — Tesla, Nest, Ecobee, Home Depot, Costco…

Customer expectations driven by the Amazon culture one-stop shopping, convenience, choice

So much to keep up with!

You need to

Break through the noise

Win customer loyalty

Inoculate against bad times

Be a strong community partner

10 small/medium utilities across the country

Worked with participant needs and restraints

Developed customizable tools and templates

Participants field tested the resources

Rolling out learning and resources to all members in 2018

Community awareness pilot in 2017

Tooting the horn: 3 easy tunes

1. Talk the talk

2. Connect with your community

3. Be social

1. Talk the talk

We are public power (not just munis)

Talk about community ownership: YOUR utility, run by your local government

Emphasize public power benefits — affordable, reliable, giving back to the community

About Public PowerPowering Strong Communities

Community-owned, not-for-profit public power utilities power homes and businesses in 2,000 communities — from small towns to large cities. …Public power supports local commerce and jobs and invests back into the community.

Help everyone talk the talk, every dayEmployees — lineworkers, meter readers, customer service staff…

Retirees

Mayors

Council/Board members

Customers

2. Connect with your communitySupport local initiatives

Host an event

Join Day of Giving, Public Power Week, campaign

Invite people to visit you

Get into the schools

3. Be socialIt’s not an option!

In good times and in bad

Facebook and Twitter at minimum

Have your own presence or be part of the city’s pages

Post every day, or at least 2-3 times a week

Get some help — students, mommy bloggers, retirees…

YOU are a social ambassador

Amplify it

• Share • Like • Comment

Hashtag it

#PublicPower

Join the national awareness campaignHighlight the role of community

Resources from the American Public Power Association, coming in September 2018

Involvement by your local businesses, schools and community members

Social media and community events

Campaign approach: a sneak peekHighlight

Role of community in owning and controlling its power

Role of power in creating important moments

Members who play a role in power delivery

Businesses, individuals, and others powered by the community

Potential taglines: still doodlingCommunity Powered (#CommunityPowered)

Powering Every Moment (#PoweringEveryMoment)

Plug in to Your Community (#PlugInToYourCommunity)

Power Lives Here (#PowerLivesHere)

Resources — customize or use as isVideos, radio announcements, infographics, slides, fact sheets

Communications plan and budget

Monthly emails with social media content ideas

Repost or share from our Facebook and Twitter

At www.PublicPower.org

55minutes

133minutes

163minutes

PUBLIC POWER UTILITIES

PRIVATE UTILITIES

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES* WITH NO MAJOR EVENTS

AVERAGE OUTAGE TIME FOR ELECTRICITY CUSTOMERS*

Access our full suite of templates and resources www.PublicPower.org(Click on Members and Communication Templates)

Subscribe to our monthly emails with ideas and resources for social media contentEmail News@PublicPower.org

Ask for help at any time

MEENA DAYAKMDayak@PublicPower.org

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