Kansas Municipal Utilities - KMU

10/12/2026

Kansas Municipal Utilities (KMU) is pleased to welcome Blake Swenson as the organization’s new attorney. In this role, Swenson will serve as a legal advisor to KMU staff, leadership, and member utilities, providing guidance on legal, legislative, and regulatory matters affecting Kansas municipal utilities.

After successfully passing the July 2026 Bar exam, Blake Swenson was sworn in to the Kansas Bar. He previously earned his Juris Doctor from Washburn University, where he graduated with Dean's Honors. During law school, he served as a research assistant, completed a 15-month internship with the Center for Climate Integrity, participated in the law school's clinic program as a Rule 715 student attorney, and worked as an intern with KMU’s Legislative Liaison, Gencur-Svaty Public Affairs, during the 2026 legislative session.

Prior to attending law school, Swenson spent nine years in education, including six years as a social studies teacher at Lawrence Free State High School. He also served as department chair, participated in a district budget and program evaluation committee, and held leadership positions with local and state education associations.

A sixth-generation Kansan, Swenson has a long history of public service involvement. His community engagement includes service on the Lawrence Citizen Advisory Committee for Community Development Block Grant Funding and participation in student government activities while attending the University of Kansas.

As legal and regulatory challenges facing municipal utilities continue to evolve, Swenson will play an important role in supporting KMU's mission and serving its members. KMU is excited to welcome him to the team and looks forward to his contributions.

10/09/2026

The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) conducted a study and found that damage to underground infrastructure costs Kansans over $500 million a year. CGA found that the damage causes service outages, property damage, and even injuries and death.

The two most common causes of damage include failure to properly mark underground lines and excavation crews not exercising reasonable care despite the markings.

Damage to "buried" utility lines — which transfer critical substances like power, natural gas, and water — costs Kansans over $500 million every year, about $1.4 million per day.

10/09/2026

New career opportunities in Kansas utilities. Are you ready to elevate your career while serving local communities? Visit KMU's Career Center today and explore your next career move. www.kmunet.org/page/CareerCenter

10/08/2026

Few know what goes into repairing a water main break. The City of Salina’s utility crew shows the repair process from start to finish. Water main repairs often happen in tough conditions and on short notice, and crews work to restore service as quickly and safely as possible. Thank you to the Salina team for sharing this behind-the-scenes look at this essential work.

10/08/2026

Congratulations to Alec Hager, the City of Colby’s newest journeyman lineman. Earning journeyman certification is no small task, and KMU is proud to have had Alec in the KMU Lineworker Apprenticeship Academy. Happy Public Power Week to the City of Colby and its electric crew!

Happy Public Power Week! Celebrated annually during the first week of October, this is a time for the Colby Power Plant and Electric Department to recognize our commitment to serving our community.

This year, the Electric Department is proud to announce that Alec Hager has completed his journey to become the City of Colby's first certified journeyman lineman since 2019. After four years of coursework, over 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, and his current role as Electric Department Crew Chief, Alec is now a certified journeyman.

Please join us in congratulating Alec on this significant achievement!

10/07/2026

KMU joins APPA in celebrating Public Power Week! Thank you to the more than 100 community-owned and operated electric utilities in Kansas that KMU proudly represents. Your Community. Your Utility. Your Power.

10/06/2026

Public Power Week is a chance to recognize the people behind the power. KMU joins the City of Gardner in thanking its Electric Division for reliable, local service that keeps the community running.

💡 It’s Public Power Week! ⚡

Public power means more than reliable electricity. It means local service, community focus and a team dedicated to keeping Gardner powered.

This week, we’re celebrating our Electric Division and the people who work every day to provide reliable service to our homes and businesses. From keeping the system running to responding when issues arise, their work helps keep our community moving.

Join us in giving our Electric Division a well-deserved thank you! 👏

09/29/2026

Kansas Municipal Utilities (KMU) is partnering with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to recognize Source Water Protection Week, and members are encouraged to take part. The week highlights a simple idea: protecting rivers, lakes, and groundwater at the source makes it easier and cheaper to deliver safe drinking water to Kansas communities.

Source Water Protection Week offers a good opportunity to get the community involved by sharing these simple steps that residents can take to protect local water sources:

💧 Dispose of household chemicals properly rather than pouring them down a drain
💧 Pick up pet waste, which can carry bacteria into storm drains
💧 Limit fertilizer and pesticide use on lawns
💧 Have septic systems inspected every three years
💧 Report spills or illegal dumping to local authorities

Every small action adds up, and Kansas communities that protect their water sources today help keep drinking water safe and affordable for generations to come.

09/22/2026

Last week, 50+ lineworkers from 24 different utilities participated in the KMU Overhead Mutual Aid Response Workshop. The workshop immersed participants in a realistic mutual aid event simulating damage to overhead electrical distribution systems. Participants learned to assess storm damage, decide the most effective response, and coordinate through communication, strategic planning, and the hands-on rebuilding of overhead systems.

KMU is grateful for the dedicated individuals who volunteered to serve as instructors and the support of the cities and organizations that allowed them to step away from their daily responsibilities to make this workshop happen.

2026 Overhead Workshop Volunteer Instructors
- Jacob Gaskell, City of Gardner, KS Government
- Zachary Grabbe, Baldwin City, KS - Municipal Government
- Sheldon Hart, City of Gardner, KS Government
- Todd Helmer, City of Hillsboro, KS
- Chance Krukenberg, City of Garden City, KS – Local Government
- Gavin McAllaster, City of Pratt
- Justin McDonald, Kansas City Board of Public Utilities
- Rod Schrage, City of Lindsborg Government

09/21/2026

Locators play a vital role in protecting utility infrastructure and preventing service interruptions. The Kansas Utility Locate Rodeo (KULR), hosted by Kansas Municipal Utilities (KMU) and Kansas 811 on September 10, 2026, at the KMU Training Facility, offered utilities an excellent opportunity to recognize talented employees and strengthen their organization's damage prevention efforts.

The KULR provides four divisions for competitors to compete in, including:
1. Electric
2. Water
3. Gas
4. Telecommunications

Awards were presented to the top three finishers in each division. The first-place winner of each division earned a sponsorship to the International Locate Rodeo held in Springfield, MO, on December 7-8, 2026, where they will represent Kansas and their organization.

While participants were not on the field competing, they had the opportunity to connect with other locators and vendors, play games, watch movies, and participate in a longest drive contest on the golf simulator.

We would like to thank all of the sponsors and volunteers. The rodeo was a great success because of their support.