April 08, 2026

Prairie du Sac utility leader a long-term steward of public power

Member Utilities

Much like the Wisconsin River that runs alongside it, Prairie du Sac is a strong and enduring community. The village of just under 4,500 is home to Prairie du Sac Utilities, a public power utility that has served the municipality for over a century.

The village’s municipal electric utility began service in 1914. Over time, the area grew and the utility adapted along with it as the need to meet electricity demand increased.

Director of Public Works Troy Murphy has been part of this growth throughout his career. He began his work with the village in 1997 as an apprentice line technician.

“There have been many upgrades and updates since I began my career almost 30 years ago,” Murphy said. “In this industry, there is always change. I’m proud to be part of a team that implements new technologies and takes on different projects to make our utility better for the community we serve.”

Over Murphy’s tenure, the utility implemented new advanced metering infrastructure, or “smart meters,” converted streetlights to LEDs and completed a microgrid study at the Sauk Prairie police station. Murphy became the public works director in 2016. Since then, the utility has only grown under his leadership. The village has made significant upgrades to the electric distribution system, increasing redundancy and reliability.

All these projects are key examples of Murphy’s long-term approach to maintaining reliable electricity and preparing the utility for its future needs.

Over his time with the utility, Murphy has seen crews travel to other states that experienced natural disasters and needed help getting the lights turned back on. The utility is a WPPI Energy member-owner, and Murphy takes the opportunity to advocate on behalf of public power as a part of the partnership.

Not only does he work hard at the local level, Murphy also spends additional time dedicated to understanding new or upcoming industry trends. He is steadfast in his efforts to keep updated on evolving technology, all to ensure Prairie du Sac Utilities continues to run smoothly for decades to come.

In 2025, Murphy received the Larry Hobart Seven Hats Award. This distinction, given out by American Public Power Association, recognizes managers of small public power utilities who wear many “hats.” Not only was Murphy honored for his work as a renaissance manager, Prairie du Sac Utilities was also recognized last year by Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin for its work to keep electric crews and utility staff safe.

“I know I’ve been here a long time, but I’m only one part of a team that helps ensure we provide reliable and safe service to our friends and neighbors,” Murphy said. “That dedication comes with being a small, local utility. We all work hard for the people who call the village home.”