Get to know BPU in a flash.

Enjoy some fun, informative and fascinating facts about BPU.

There’s a lot about your power and water utility company you may not know. From its history of service to improving the quality of life for Wyandotte residents to helping the environment, BPU is constantly putting the Power of Community to work serving you. Discover a few of the interesting facts about BPU below:

General Utility Information

100+ years of service to Wyandotte County, serving 67,000 electric and 53,000 water customers.
- 161,000 residents
Revenue Source
- 85% electric
- 15% water
One of the top public utilities in the nation.
BPU is a publicly owned administrative agency of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas (UG), and is self-governed by an elected six-member Board of Directors.
As a municipal utility, BPU is non-profit, which means it answers to Main Street not Wall Street.
All Board meetings, hearings, etc., are open to the public. See the “NEWS” page for virtual meeting access.
BPU’s mission is to focus on the needs of our customers, to improve the quality of life in our community while promoting safe, reliable and sustainable utilities.
The utility serves 127.5 square miles of Wyandotte County. Electric services are provided within the Kansas City, Kansas (KCK), area and water is supplied to KCK, as well as portions of suburban Wyandotte, Leavenworth and Johnson counties.

A Community-Owned Asset

BPU is recognized as one of the top municipal utilities in the nation.
- One of only 83 of the more than 2,000 public utility companies to receive the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) award from American Public Power Association (APPA).
- One of only seven public utilities in the country to receive the “Gold” award for its water system from American Water Works Association (AWWA).
- Only utility in KC Metro area and Kansas to receive the National Partnership for Safe Water Award developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Previously voted as having the Best Tasting Water in the State of Kansas.
BPU employs 600+ Wyandotte County residents that live, work, shop, and eat in our community every day, contributing to the county’s tax base and our local economy.

Community Support

BPU and its associates provide extensive volunteer, civic, financial and philanthropic support to Wyandotte County, donating thousands of dollars and hours of community service, including:
The Employees Charity Golf Corp. Tournament - raises money for area children’s charities
BPU Employee Foundation - provides philanthropic support to the community
Contributing to the annual United Way campaign
BPU Summer Youth Program - provides grants for area youth services
Toy drive for homeless children and Thanksgiving meals delivery for the needy
Collaboration with the Unified Government and the Wyandotte Economic Development Council to attract new retail, commercial and industrial businesses
Hardship and utility assistance programs

An Environmental Steward

BPU operations are managed in an environmentally efficient and responsible manner, working to comply with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and laws.
One of the first utilities in Kansas to purchase wind energy, signing a 20-year purchase agreement for 25 MW from Smoky Hill Wind Farm near Salina.
48% of BPU’s energy comes from renewable energy
- Federal Hydro = 44 MW
- Wind Energy = 250 MW
- Hydroelectric Energy = 7 MW from Bowersock Mills
- Landfill Gas = 3.5 MW
- Community Solar = 1 MW
  - Built the state’s first Community Solar Farm in 2017, making solar power affordable and allowing participants to lease their own panels, each of which eliminates 12 tons of CO2. Click here for more information.
Conducts free energy efficiency workshops in the community.
BPU maintains its own water testing lab to ensure water quality.

Customer Service Focus

Commitment to assist you with everything from easily starting, stopping or transferring service, to answers about your account. Click here for more information.
Convenient ways to pay your bill. Click here for details.
Energy Engage tool that allows you to track your utility usage. Click here to learn more.
New automated meter reading will save money, reduce carbon footprint from vehicle use, and by recording daily usage levels, allows BPU to report leaks to homeowners.

Meeting the Utility Needs of Wyandotte County

Electric system includes two active power stations, 29 substations and 3,000 miles of electrical lines.
- BPU is responsible for the county’s 5,300 traffic signal heads, 6,000 fire hydrants, 19,000 streetlights and the radio system for first responders: fire, police, ambulance and sheriff.
State-of-the-art water treatment plant, three pump stations, and 1,000 miles of water pipes over 150 sq. mile area.
- Water quality consistently exceeds all federal and state standards.
- Two of the nation’s largest horizontal collector wells deep below Missouri River ensure safe and consistent BPU drinking water at all times.
BPU is working to meet the long-term utility needs of our growing community, while maintaining and servicing an aging utility infrastructure.
- Nearman power plant is over 25 years old, requiring costly maintenance and frequent overhauls.
- Active participation and 17% ownership in Dogwood, a natural gas plant.

Accountability and Transparency

All Board meetings, hearings, etc., are open to the public and comments are always invited. Click here to see the “NEWS” page for virtual meeting access.
Recently launched new user-friendly website (www.bpu.com), including new online outage management reporting system that allows customers to see outages down to their street level.
Utilizing social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to better communicate with our customers.
As public servants, BPU continues to develop and implement new practices and procedures to ensure that this utility is the best it can be.

540 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101-2930
(913) 573-9000 Contact Us

CCR RULE COMPLIANCE
DATA AND IMPLEMENTATION

540 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101-2930
(913) 573-9000
Contact Us

CCR RULE COMPLIANCE DATA AND IMPLEMENTATIONS

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