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The company known today as Sun Prairie Water & Light started a century ago as a small steam laundry operation that also supplied electricity to a handful of residents in the remote town of Sun Prairie, Wis. In 1910, the city purchased the electric portion of the plant, which produced electricity until 1919. Shortly thereafter, the company entered into a contract with Badger Electric Service, which ultimately became Sun Prairie Water & Light. 

Today, Sun Prairie Water & Light is one of 51 customer-owned power utilities that function under parent company WPPI Energy. Growing from its modest beginnings, Sun Prairie Water & Light now provides electric and water service to more than 20,000 residents in the Sun Prairie community. The company also has developed capabilities in the realm of fiber-optic Internet and WAN connections, as well as wireless network design and installation.

As Sun Prairie Water & Light gears up for a centennial celebration – and a name change to Sun Prairie Utilities – the company has not lost sight of where it has been and where it is heading. 

Lean and Green

It’s not uncommon for a utilities company to be conscious of conservation and sustainability. However, for Sun Prairie Water & Light, the issue is one of drastic importance. According to Rick Wicklund, utility manager for Sun Prairie Water & Light, WPPI Energy has set a goal for its subsidiaries of 25 percent green power by the year 2025. “Our city is looking to them as an example of how to be more efficient in terms of energy and water conservation,” he says.

To help in the conservation efforts, Sun Prairie Water & Light employs an energy services representative who performs energy audits for area businesses. The representative makes a thorough assessment of a business’ operating procedures and offers recommendations on energy savings and ways to reduce wasted resources. 

Sun Prairie Water & Light also works to raise residential customers’ awareness of power and water conservation. “We want to make everyone aware of what’s out there in terms of rebates,” Wicklund says. “We make personal contact with our customers by reaching out to them and letting them know that we’re here to help.” 

The company’s efforts toward spreading conservation awareness have shown signs of success in recent years. According to Wicklund, many city buildings have adopted conservation measures such as geothermal heating and cooling, while area schools have been equipped with control systems that automatically regulate a building’s power usage. If classrooms aren’t in use, the system automatically shuts the heat down and limits the lighting.  

“It costs less to conserve a kilowatt of electricity than it does to generate one,” Wicklund notes. 

Powering the Future 

The population for which Sun Prairie Water & Light supplies power and light has expanded substantially over the past several years. As Wicklund explains, it wasn’t long ago that the company routinely installed an estimated 500 new electric meters in the area each year. 

However, amid the fast-paced growth in the community, Sun Prairie Water & Light has continued to employ a modest 31 workers, which aligns nicely with the community’s cherished small-town mentality. “If the company was larger, it would become more impersonal,” Wicklund explains. “This utility has always retained a personal connection with its customers and the city. We make sure we do whatever we can to make their life easier without an inconvenience.” 

Much of what Sun Prairie Water & Light has done lately to benefit customers is to invest in technology that will have a lasting impact on future operations. “More than anything, we’re focused on giving the town of Sun Prairie a reliable power and water system distribution,” Wicklund notes. “Therefore, the city and WPPI Energy have put forth plans to incorporate smart grid technology throughout the service area.” 

Wicklund also foresees advancements in the way customers control their electricity. “Whether from a computer at work or at home, there’s going to be more capabilities for customers to control what they’re paying each month,” he says. “You’re going to see new rates formed that promote energy conservation. This will entice customers to limit usage during peak demand times.”

In terms of technological advancements, the future is limitless. “Who knows where technology is going to take us,” Wicklund says. “I think it’s going to be very interesting.”