(KANSAS CITY, Kan.) — The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU) Board of Directors approved its 2021 Annual Budget for the municipal electric and water utility at its December 15, 2021 Board meeting. The 2022 budget totaling $350.6 million is approximately $2.2 million more than the 2021 budget of $348.3 million. The increased budget of 0.66% is mainly the result of higher personnel costs and increased purchase power costs.

When looking to 2022, BPU’s major goals and priorities will include the following:

• Provide cost effective, safe and reliable utility services, including efficient operation of electric and water production facilities. Continue to refine our operational strategies for recovering from a national pandemic.


• Remain focused on updating policies and operating procedures as needed to meet the requirements of our broad customer base and to ensure best-in-class utility services. Put in place initiatives to make information and services more readily accessible. Ensure the proper use of benchmarking results in achieving these standards.


• Ensure continued fiscal sustainability by effectively managing debt service coverage, cash-on-hand, and credit ratings through open and transparent fiscal and budget policies.


• Continue to champion strategic alliances and support expansion opportunities that benefit the utility as well as the community. Support economic development, business retention and growth in the service area with other community partners.


• Strengthen our commitment with the community by expanding our supply chain operations in order to improve our supplier diversity program through our local vendor preference for KCK businesses.


• Ensure electric and water production and delivery systems are adaptable to support changes in future supply sources. Operate and maintain all utility assets in a safe, reliable, and cost-efficient manner, while working to prioritize future replacement projects.


• Continue to support and champion renewable energy (i.e., wind, community solar, etc.), while evaluating future generation mix opportunities to ensure sustainable energy usage opportunities for our community. Continue to make strategic improvements to our key account program by focusing on the needs of our top consumers.


• Continue to offer residential customers flexible and easy payment options. Continue to promote the use of our newer customer service technologies to assist them with their interaction with our utility.


• Promote on-going energy and water efficiency initiatives through customer education, community outreach services, and targeted programs.


• Identify and encourage usage of innovative technologies, implementation of utility wide reliability standards, and development of a safety-conscious workplace that ensures continued high-quality utility services.


• Continue to focus on corporate reporting programs including data analytics and operational performance metrics. Ensure utility compares favorably with other peer municipal utilities within the region.


• Continue to focus on employee training and development. Improve utility recruiting efforts to improve employee qualifications and performance.


• Ensure 100% compliance with all federal and state rules and regulations. This includes continuing to monitor, evaluate, and address changes in all environmental regulations.

BPU will continue efforts to improve efficiencies and reduce costs; assist and support community partners and meet and prepare for future customer growth while maintaining world-class customer service. This award-winning municipally-owned utility remains committed to providing safe, reliable and affordable electric and water services to Wyandotte County, while continually working to improve the quality of life in the community in which it operates.