Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, Kansas City, Kansas, United States: The BPU Connection Newsletter

Typically produced 3x a year on rolling/varying schedule. The publication dates of the three newsletter samples being provided were May 2023, December 2023, and March 2024.

Total 193 words used.

To communicate relevant/timely information about BPU programs, efficiency & conversation, safety protocols, etc., to utility customers/stakeholders through an 8–12-page printed newsletter. Audiences include: 1) Customers (residential, commercial); 2) Influencers (civic leaders, elected, media), and 3) BPU Employees acting as “ambassadors”. 59,000 copies are mailed to customers 3-4 times a year, and it’s shared via social media, email, and online – and 1,500+ hard copies distributed by hand to neighborhood groups, biz orgs, and officials in Topeka and D.C.

With no community-focused newspaper for residents, it’s a critical communications tool to reach one of the most diverse and underserved populations in the state – and where less tech savvy/older customers prefer direct mailbox delivery. Redistribution of hard copies creates additional awareness.

Newsletter content is regularly re-printed in the County government e-newsletter, and BPU receives positive input at the local, state, and federal level. BPU.com provides a viewing and download feature, averaging 7,500+ total page views, and 2,500 downloads/views. “Call-to-action” articles indicate readers are engaged – with thousands signing up and increased program enrollment for Paperless Billing, Equal Payment Plan, and 100,000+ views of BPU’s Online Outage Map.

BPU Chief Communications Officer David Mehlhaff oversees production of the newsletter, working with BPU Communications Coordinator Nick Moreno. Both enlist the input of subject matter experts across BPU to create content that is informative and timely, while utilizing public relations firm DSC Communications LLC to manage the content, design, and mailings.