Austin Utilities (AU) will be holding their award winning Winter Readiness Event from 3-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 10.

The event is being held in conjunction with Public Power and Public Natural Gas Week and will include a Utility EXPO being held at the same time.

The open house style event will allow customers to visit with utility staff and vendors to learn how to prepare for upcoming winter heating bills. Among other things, attendees can sign up for budget payments, learn about high bill culprits, talk to a home energy auditor, and see if they qualify for local heating assistance. Participating vendors will include Ace Hardware, GA Ernst energy auditor, Salvation Army, and SEMCAC heating assistance program.

Attendees can then check out the utility EXPO where utility workers will be available at a hands on display of utility vehicles and equipment including line trucks and heavy construction equipment.

Utility staff will demonstrate work typically performed in the field and display various utility specific tools used. Hot dog meals and cookies will be available for a free will donation to the Salvation Army HeatShare program. Attendees will receive a free LED for attending and have the chance to win one of four $50 bill credits being awarded if they are AU customers.

The week’s events will also include a Share the Heat 5K or 1 Mile Run/Walk on Saturday and public tours of their building on Monday, Oct. 8. Information on these events and more can be found at www.austinutilities.com.

This is the second year Austin Utilities has hosted the Winter Readiness event, which earned runner up in the Marketing and Sales award category from the American Public Gas Association. In 2017, over 100 people attended this event.

The open house date was selected because it falls during both Public Power and Public Natural Gas week. These events celebrate the benefits of being served by a municipal utility. Serving Austin as far back as 1887, Austin Utilities is one of the largest combined municipal utilities in the State of Minnesota with 79 full-time and 5 part-time staff.