Kaukauna Utilities (KU) is proud to announce it has earned two national awards for excellence in communications and has once again been recognized as a Smart Energy Provider by the American Public Power Association (APPA).
The recognition was announced during APPA’s annual Customer Connections Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, in late October. KU was among 55 public power utilities and organizations nationwide to receive an Excellence in Public Power Communications Award, earning two Awards of Merit for its efforts to engage and educate customers and the community.
Excellence in Public Power Communications Awards
KU received an Award of Merit in the Web & Social Media category for its Public Power Week Coloring Contest, which brought together local students, schools, and families to celebrate the value of a community-owned utility. Through collaborative classroom posters and community voting, the contest encouraged creativity, teamwork, and community engagement.
KU also earned an Award of Merit in the Video category for its Shared Savings Program video, which showcases how KU helps local businesses make energy-efficient improvements through affordable financing options. Featuring a local business, the video highlights the program’s benefits and opportunities for businesses to reduce energy costs.
These awards recognize high-quality communications and are judged by experts in the field. Award recipients show ingenuity and creativity in storytelling through outstanding writing, design, presentation of data, graphics, social media engagement, video editing, and web layout.
Smart Energy Provider Designation
KU once again earned APPA’s Smart Energy Provider (SEP) designation, recognizing its commitment to providing safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric service. KU was one of just 59 utilities to receive the designation in 2026, which recognizes leading practices in energy efficiency, distributed generation, sustainability, and customer experience.
KU first earned the designation in 2019, the first year the association offered it. Nationwide, 118 public power utilities currently hold the designation.
Together, these recognitions reflect KU’s commitment to providing valuable programs, resources, and information to customers while delivering affordable, reliable electric and water service to the communities it serves.
