Celebrating Community Ownership

Celebrating Community Ownership

October 21, 2021

Greenville Utilities celebrated Public Power Week and Public Natural Gas Week October 3 — 9, 2021. These annual events give GUC a chance to celebrate with our community all of the advantages that locally-owned and operated utilities provide. 
 
We shared the many benefits of being a public utility with customers and employees in a variety of ways. Public Information ran print ads in The Daily Reflector. Our website also highlighted the advantages of our publicly-owned systems.  

Social media and GUC-TV added to our ability to share the news with our customers through a variety of messages and videos. Gas Systems Crew Leader David Telfair and Underground Lineworker Stanley Roberson were our video stars in this year’s public power and natural gas videos. They shared with our customers some of the benefits of locally-owned utilities and why they are proud to work for a public utility.

 


 
In addition, we continued our tradition of kicking off this special week two days early by participating in Freeboot Friday. Uptown Greenville coordinates Freeboot Fridays on the eve of ECU home football games. There's live music, food, activities for children, and plenty of good company. Freebooters were able to chat with our employees and spin our prize wheel to win promotional items. Big thanks to IT Director Andy Anderson and Accounting Technician Caitlyn McLawhorn for assisting Public Information at Freeboot Friday. 
 
Since we could not extend the celebration this year through as many in-person events as we have done in the past, Public Information delivered special branded cups to employees. Our Customer Relations Department also spread the public utility cheer throughout the week with a special theme each day that also included a food drive for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC.  

Public utilities offer many advantages for the communities they serve. Here are some of the benefits that make GUC a valuable part of our region: 

Low Rates – GUC’s rates are lower than most utility companies in the region, usually below the median rate when compared to other public-owned, member-owned, and for-profit companies  

Local Investment – All rates and charges go right back into our system to provide safe, reliable services; maintain operations; and support the growth of the Greenville region, not into shareholder pockets. 

Local Control – The GUC Board of Commissioners is appointed by the City Council and made up entirely of GUC customers. Decisions they make are in the interest of our customers here at home, not out-of-town stockholders.  

In the Community – We support our community in a variety of ways through education, environmental stewardship, and community events. We do it because it’s our community too. We’re our customers’ neighbors.   

Economic Development – Greenville Utilities provides utility solutions which serve as the foundation for growth in the Greenville region.