As I prepare this column, a new year has just begun, and I’m looking forward to the promise and opportunity that 2021 holds. The beginning of a new year is a time I pause before a blank slate, review the accomplishments and trials of the previous 12 months and look ahead to FPU’s next goals.
Last year certainly presented challenges unlike any we’ve ever seen. A global pandemic led to economic hardship. It’s easy to let those struggles drag us down and dim our outlook on the days to come, but in reassessing how we’ve met these challenges, I’m certain that brighter days are ahead.
Here at Fayetteville Public Utilities, our dedicated employees have risen to the occasion. We adjusted our hours and policies to keep everyone safe. We continued our outreach to our community — our hometown — helping struggling neighbors in these uncertain times. Folks at FPU buckled down in adopting new safety practices, all while continuing to provide the high-quality service our customers expect and deserve.
It hasn’t always been easy, but our goal continues to be to go above and beyond in service to our community. It’s not enough to simply supply utilities. At FPU, we think of ourselves as craftsmen. That means we’re not simply building something; we’re building it well — with pride and purpose.
It’s not enough for us to pick up the phone when you call with questions. We give you options for engaging with your local utility to use the most convenient method for you. We ensure your safety in our lobbies and the community where our employees work outside the office. We provide opportunities for our future customers, encouraging the area’s youth to dream big and helping them develop the skills they need to join tomorrow’s workforce. We provide energy-saving information so you can get the most out of your energy dollars.
I can’t express how proud I am of our entire team for showing such resilience. Like our crews who brave the fiercest weather or overcome long odds to deliver utilities to the most remote reaches of our service area, all our employees are craftsmen with keen eyes and uncommon skill earned through busted knuckles and sleepless nights. Through service and sacrifice, we’re the people who build stuff — artisans whose work in wood,  pipes, wire, fiber and steel to light the countryside and power our community.
FPU takes great pride in the work we do, the infrastructure we build and the community we serve. We are crafting the future of our rural and suburban areas — investing in comfort and connection, in utilities and opportunity, in people and places.
We’re building a brighter community.