The Florida Municipal Electric Association is honoring the Kissimmee Utility Authority with the “Building Strong Communities” accolade, acknowledging the utility’s substantial contributions to improving community life. These contributions go beyond the effective provision of cost-effective, dependable, and environmentally friendly energy.
The FMEA acknowledged public power utilities for their initiatives and endeavors aimed at enhancing the environment, promoting community education, facilitating charitable contributions, prioritizing crime prevention, and executing special projects like illuminating ball fields and playgrounds. These utilities actively participate in community and holiday festivities, organize blood drives, pay tribute to veterans and military personnel, and work persistently to fortify the areas in which they serve.
In the past year, KUA supported more than 100 community organizations and activities that impacted a combined 250,000 residents. Notable projects included:
- Hosting several community blood drives
- Completing 914 free home energy audits and processing 534 rebates
- Funding $27,500 in college scholarships for local high school students
- Distributing 40,000 free hurricane preparedness guides and 15,000 free electrical safety calendars
- Sponsoring free student admission to the Osceola County Fair
- Sponsoring the City of Kissimmee’s annual events and providing a Kids Zone
- Hosting six free Movie in the Park events for the community
- Supporting Christmas meals for homeless military veterans
- Participating in holiday toy drives for children in need
- Installing additional EV Charging Stations resulting in a total of 69 in Kissimmee
- Collecting more than $121,000 for KUA’s Good Neighbor Fund
KUA was announced as an award recipient on Nov. 7 at the FMEA Energy Connections Conference and Trade Show in Orlando. The utility joins 19 other community-owned Florida public power communities in receiving this award.
“For the people who work for Florida’s public power utilities, it is more than just a job. It is a way for them to give back to their communities and an opportunity to strengthen the communities that they also live in,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “Congratulations to each of the utilities honored today, including KUA, and many thanks to the employees who have made this recognition possible.”
