OMU News

Manage your utility bills this winter

noreply@blogger.com (Owensboro Municipal Utilities) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:33:00 +0000

Rising costs are affecting all of us. To manage your utility bills this winter, learn to winterize your home by visiting our "Using Your Utilities" portion of the website. Click here for more information.

Start planning now for a happy and SAFE holiday season

noreply@blogger.com (Owensboro Municipal Utilities) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:25:00 +0000

A few simple reminders can help you celebrate the holidays safely this year:

Remember to use only lights rated for outdoor use outside your home.
Do not cover extension cords with presents, furniture, rugs, drapery or other items.
Place portable heating units away from furniture, boxes and other flammable items; remember to turn them off and unplug them before bed or leaving the house.
When decorating your tree, run no more than three strands of lights together.
If lights do not function properly or have frayed or damaged cords, toss them.
Be careful when using candles. Extinguish them before leaving the room, going to bed or leaving your house.
Disconnect your outdoor house and shut off the water source to the line to avoid freezing as temperatures dip.

OMU wishes you and your loved ones a happy and safe holiday season.

An important letter to our wireless internet customers

noreply@blogger.com (Owensboro Municipal Utilities) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:13:00 +0000

When OMU began offering wireless internet service to residential and small commercial customers in 2002, it was our intent to meet an expressed and unfulfilled community need: high speed, affordable internet service for residential and small commercial customers. As in all of our utility services, OMU sought to continue its history of quality service at economical cost to our internet customers.

Since that time, a number of other internet service providers have begun offering affordable, high-speed internet access in our area. Knowing that this important gap in service has been filled, OMU has decided to sell the OMUOnline wireless internet service to Norlight, Inc., which has provided Owensboro Online internet service locally since 1999 and shares the same commitment to customer service and affordable pricing.

Please note that OMU will continue to provide connectivity to our fiber customers.

We ask for your patience during the transition and assure you that your satisfaction with your internet service is not only our utmost concern, but Norlight’s as well.

You will continue to use the same customer premise equipment and we do not anticipate an interruption in your service. OMU will also continue to bill you for your internet service until the transition is completed. After that time you will be notified of any changes in your billing. We do not, however, expect any price or service package changes as a result of this transition.

In addition, you will continue to access your OMUOnline e-mail at www.omuonline.net and call (270) 926-3200 for help desk support. You will be notified of any changes affecting your e-mail access or help desk assistance.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact OMU at 926-3200.

It has been a pleasure to be your internet provider.

Windstorm results in widespread outage

noreply@blogger.com (Owensboro Municipal Utilities) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:00:00 +0000

A windstorm with gusts topping 75 miles per hour struck Owensboro on Sunday, September 14, causing widespread and extensive damage throughout the city.

Immediately following the storm, Owensboro Municipal Utilities reported approximately 19,000 of its 25,500 customers were without power. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, September 18, approximately 2,000 customers remain without power.

At the height of the storm, OMU's entire electric grid was affected. Nine of the utility's 15 substations were affected, seven transmission poles were destroyed along with 30 distribution ones.

Due to the nature of this storm and the way it affected the system, crews had to first restore transmission capabilities, then re-energize substations before crews could begin physically walking each of the utilities power lines to assess additional damage, evaluate safety and restore power where possible.

OMU estimates that the majority of those currently without power will be restored by Wednesday evening. Crews from Frankfort, Henderson, Bowling Green and Springfield, IL, are working with OMU crews to complete restoration. Hendrix contract crews are also assisting in restoration.

Please do not remove limbs or trees from lines. Assume that all downed lines are energized and therefore dangerous.

For more information about electric restoration, please click here.

To report downed lines or power outages, please call (270) 926-3200.

OMU to celebrate Public Power Week October 6-10

noreply@blogger.com (Owensboro Municipal Utilities) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:16:00 +0000

As part of a national observance, Owensboro Municipal Utilities is celebrating Public Power Week, October 6-10, 2008 along with more than 2,000 other electric utilities whose communities provide their citizens electric services on a locally-owned, not-for-profit basis.

Public Power Week will kick off with a 5K Power Run/Walk starting and ending at OMU’s Customer Service Center on Tamarack Road on Saturday, October 4. Entry forms can be obtained at the Customer Center and clicking here. Awards will be given in a variety of age divisions in the race.

OMU will celebrate Customer Appreciation Day on Wednesday, October 8. Visitors to the Customer Service Center will receive a compact fluorescent light bulb. For additional tips on saving energy, please let OMU be your partner in using your utilities wisely by clicking here.

OMU will also sponsor the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce’s Rooster Booster breakfast on October 9 as part of its month-long commemoration of Public Power Week.

Customers will receive a copy of OMU’s annual report in their October combined services billing statements. This report will provide an overview of the local utility and will also be available on this site. For copies of past year's reports, click here.

Public Power Week is celebrated in conjunction with the American Public Power Association in Washington, D.C., the service organization for community- and state-owned electric utilities.

Water Line Flushing Begins Monday May 19

noreply@blogger.com (Owensboro Municipal Utilities) — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:39:00 +0000

OMU's Water Department will begin flushing the water distribution system as part of the routine maintenance beginning on Monday May 19. Flushing will be conducted daily and should be complete in about a week.

Crews will begin flushing fire hydrants in the north eastern portion of Owensboro and work toward the western and southern areas of the city.

Customers in the areas being flushed may notice some discoloration of the water and should not be alarmed. However It may be necessary to let water run for a short time until it is clear.

If customers have additional questions, we invite them to call 926-3200.

Omu Celebrates National Drinking Water Week May 5 Through 9

noreply@blogger.com (Owensboro Municipal Utilities) — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:23:00 +0000

For immediate release

Contact Sonya L. Dixon, Public Relations & Communications Specialist, 270-926-3200 ext. 336

April 1, 2008: Around the world, every 15 seconds, someone loses his or her life, either due to lack of water or because the water that is available is contaminated. We often take for granted the importance and value of a clean, safe water supply.

In the United States, we are able to enjoy safe, healthy sources of drinking water. And in an effort to celebrate the importance of this resource, Owensboro Municipal Utilities will join other utilities in commemorating National Drinking Water Week May 5-9.

For over 100 years, OMU has used its deep well system to bring low-cost, high quality water to the residents of Owensboro. In addition, OMU provides water to three water districts serving all of Daviess County.

During April, OMU distributed its annual Water Quality Report to each customer in the form of a bill insert. This report is also available on OMU’s website at www.omu.org.

In addition, a gift of appreciation will be given to anyone visiting the Customer Service Center on May 7, 2008.

Frizzell Named Director Of Power Production

noreply@blogger.com (Owensboro Municipal Utilities) — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:25:00 +0000

For immediate release

Contact: Sonya Dixon, 270-926-3200 ext. 336

January 17, 2008: At its monthly meeting, January 17, 2008, the Owensboro Utility Commission appointed Kevin Frizzell as Director of Power Production at the Owensboro Municipal Utilities’ Elmer Smith Station. Frizzell, who was named acting director in September 2007, has worked as OMU’s Technical Services Superintendent since April 1990.

“Kevin has been a long-term, valuable leader at the Elmer Smith Station,” Stan Conn, General Manager said. “His background, knowledge of the plant and planning skills will serve OMU well. We appreciate the outstanding work he has done in the interim and look forward to his continuing service as part of the management team.”

"We have an outstanding workforce and I look forward to working with them as we continue to generate low cost electricity for the city of Owensboro,” Kevin added.

Frizzell, a licensed professional engineer in Kentucky, is an Ohio County native and a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he earned a degree in chemical engineering in 1985. Frizzell worked as a permit reviewer for the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection and a process engineer for MPD, Inc. prior to joining the OMU team.

Kevin and his wife, Tammy, have two children, Travis and Erica. Travis is a senior at the University of Kentucky. Erica is a freshman at the University of Louisville.