Page 3 - Fall 2023 BPU Connection PDF - FINAL

BPU | general manager’s report
Commitment

to Supplier

Diversity
BILL JOHNSON

General Manager The utility works to provide suppliers with
a fair and equal opportunity to conduct
business with BPU, recognizing that as
a public entity it has a responsibility to
As a municipal utility, BPU operates BPU, and its employees who purchase goods and services from a diverse
as a community enterprise focused all live and work right here in base of local suppliers. Through its Supplier
on the satisfaction and benefit of its Wyandotte County, are focused Diversity Program, BPU strives to obtain
customers, working to ensure quality, on ensuring best-in-class service high-quality goods and services from
reliable electric and water service – – with the utility and individual disadvantaged businesses at competitive
and an unwavering commitment to employees regularly receiving prices, enhancing opportunities for success
the quality of life in the communities regional and national recognition. for business owners of diverse backgrounds
it serves. We appreciate and value More recently, this includes being including those that are minority-owned,
our customers, continually looking designated a Smart Energy Provider women-owned, disabled-owned, and
for ways to improve by reviewing for conservation efforts, a Gold veteran-owned. BPU proactively promotes
existing and introducing new services Stevie Award for best customer these efforts, participating recently in the
and programs, supporting economic website, an individual Distinguished 2023 Midwest Supplier Diversity Expo locally.
growth, creating operational Career Service Award in the public
efficiencies, reducing costs, and water field, and an individual Black
regularly seeking customer and Achievers Award in Business by
community stakeholder input. the Southern Leadership Christian
To this end, BPU utilizes Conference, among others.
comprehensive surveys to identify Serving more than 65,000
areas for expanded or improved electric customers and 53,000
service throughout the utility, water customers, BPU works every
focusing on product offerings, day to manage and service more
customer service practices, billing than 3,000 miles of electric lines,
processes, environmental initiatives, 1,000 miles of water lines, 19,000
etc. Please keep an eye out for these, streetlights, and 6,000 fire hydrants
sharing your recommendations and across this community, as well as the
suggestions as BPU uses the results community-wide first responder radio
to improve the customer experience, system. We’re proud to serve the
and target areas for improvement, people of Wyandotte County, just as
expansion, and elimination to better this not-for-profit community-owned
serve customers and the community. utility has done for the last century.

Fiscal Transparency/Stability

BPU has once again been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for
Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers BPU utilized local Wyandotte
Association (GFOA) in 2023. It’s the highest recognition in the areas of County minority-owned,
governmental accounting, financial reporting, and transparency, and the 41st women-owned, and veteran-
year in a row BPU has received this distinguished recognition.
BPU also maintains a profile/rating of “A” and “Stable Outlook” by national owned small businesses for
rating service companies Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings, acknowledging more than 300 purchase orders
the strength of the utility’s on-going operations. in 2022, totaling $22 million.

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FALL 2023 |