Public Power Week celebrates the reliable, affordable electricity Hudson Public Power provides to our community. Public power puts the people of Hudson first, and Public Power Week gives us the chance to emphasize the advantages of locally owned power that supports strong communities.
HPP is tasked with maintaining the 100 miles of overhead and 60 miles of underground wire to keep the lights on in Hudson. This process includes pruning or removing any trees that are in danger of touching or falling on the wires.
Having a municipally owned power provider in Hudson is a valuable asset to the community. Not only does this allow a more focused customer service approach than larger electric companies, it also allows a faster and efficient response time during an outage or emergency due to a much smaller service area.
HPP places significant emphasis on safety and training for its employees. They go through regular safety training and drills to ensure they are up-to-date on the latest safety methods and techniques. In September, HPP employees participated in Pole Top Rescue drills during which they practice safely removing a fellow lineman who has been injured from the top of an electric pole.
HPP's work to keep the lights on isn’t its only job. HPP staff have also been hard at work building the infrastructure for the City’s high-speed, all-fiber internet service Velocity Broadband. Their knowledge of the existing electric lines and pathways and electrical expertise have made them an integral part of the planning and implementation process with much of the fiber being laid along the electric network.
HPP employees are also responsible for turning Hudson into a twinkling wonderland during the holiday season with the hanging of the holiday lights. In addition, they replace street lights, maintain the traffic signals, and hang banners on the light posts.
Not only is HPP there for the community of Hudson, but as part of the American Municipal Power network, they also help out around the country. In anticipation of the damage to be wrought by Hurricane Irma, HPP sent a trio of Hudson linemen to Florida to be ready to deploy when the hurricane passed. The crew aided in restoring power in Clewiston, Florida and Bartow, Florida.
In celebration of Public Power Week, HPP is giving away Energy Efficiency Kits that include an LED light bulb, a night light, and an energy saver card. Pick up your kit at Utility Billing - 115 Executive Parkway, Suite 400 - or at the Public Works Department - 1769 Georgetown Road. The kits were made possible by a grant from EcoSmart to cover a portion of the costs.