Missouri public power utility Hannibal Board of Public Works has implemented a unique social media campaign designed to communicate the value of public power to its customers, with the utility’s employees playing a direct and key role in the campaign.
The monthly social media campaign, which is called “Benefits of a Hometown Utility,” utilizes a different utility employee each month who holds up a sign with that month’s benefit.
The Benefits of a Hometown Utility monthly social media campaign officially launched in August 2023, Erica Mitchell, Coordinator of Customer and Community Relations, told Public Power Current.
Since the launch of the campaign, the benefits that have been detailed in each month’s sign held up by a Hannibal Board of Public Works employee have included:
- Affordable prices
- Not-for-profit status
- Profound commitment to community goals and initiatives
- Local employment
- Local economic development
- Reliable, unmatched customer service
- Local control
- Strong commitment to conservation efforts and the environment
- Quick dispatch response from crews who are located in the community
- Invest in future generations by promoting STEM-based careers in the community
- Coming in June – Optimal efficiency through combined utility operations (Electric, Water, Sewer, Stormwater)
- Coming in July – Citizen-Owned: You Have a Direct Voice
The community of Hannibal is relatively small, speaking in terms of population, Mitchell noted.
The Hannibal Board of Public Works has over 30 employees of its total employee roster of 70 who have worked for the utility for 10 or more years.
“Because of that, citizens know our employees very well. When I feature a long-time employee of the HBPW in one of these monthly postings, we see a big jump in engagement from the public, including notes of appreciation on our posts for all we do for the Hannibal community,” she said.
