CPU Board members with the APPA Certificates, George Miller, James Hicks, Donald Mitchell, Dr. Jimmy Humber and Freddie Davis.
BY CHRIS CAMPOS, Director CPU Public Relations.
CLARKSDALE, Monday, January 29, 2018 – The Clarksdale Public Utilities (CPU) Commission is the first municipal utility governing board in the state of Mississippi to have all of its members to be certified by and to graduate from the American Public Power Association (APPA) Public Utility Governance Certification Program. In fact, the Clarksdale Commission is the first such entity in the nation to have all of its governing board members to hold this certification. According to the APPA, “Effective governance is critical to a public power utility’s success. Public power policymakers preside over a significant community asset in a vital sector of the American economy. The operation of the public power utility affects the economy, quality of life, operations, and efficiency of every home, business, and institution in its service territory. Because utility governing board members perform an important service for their communities, it is imperative that they understand the complex industry issues that affect their utility, as well as their personal duties, responsibilities, and obligations as policymakers.” The program is designed to educate the policymakers of publicly owned utilities on the utility industry, as well as provide tools for success in their roles.
Ursula Schryver, VP of Education and Customer Programs for APPA, shares “As the electric utility industry continues to evolve, it is increasingly important that policymakers understand industry issues, board responsibilities and the benefits of public power. Clarksdale Public Utilities has demonstrated its commitment to board education and development by participating in the American Public Power Association’s Governance Certificate Program and is the first utility in the nation to encourage and support the certification of their entire board.”
George Miller, one of CPU’s Commissioners, received the certification back in 2013. Freddie Davis, Dr. Jimmy Humber, Donald Mitchell, and James Hicks all successfully completed the certificate program in January, making them the first entire governing board in CPU’s history to do so, as well as in the United States. The focuses of the program include Electric Utility Industry Overview, Duties, Responsibilities and Legal Obligations, Performance Monitoring and Accountability, Strategic Planning, and Utility Financial Operations.
About Clarksdale Public Utilities
Clarksdale Public Utilities is a municipally owned utility serving Clarksdale, Mississippi. Its mission is to safely provide sustainable electric, water and wastewater services in a reliable and courteous manner by well-trained team members, committed to top quality, efficient operations, competitive rates and the vitality of the community. Learn more at http://www.cdpu.net .