June 10, 2025

Utility leaders awarded for public service, leadership

Member Utilities

Two public power advocates representing WPPI Energy member utilities received awards Tuesday from the American Public Power Association.

Prairie du Sac Director of Public Works Troy Murphy and Jim Brooks, former Evansville City Council president, received recognition during the APPA National Conference in New Orleans. APPA represents the 2,000 municipalities nationwide that run on public power.

“It’s nice to be seen for all that I do, but it’s important to remember that I’m not the only one on this small staff taking on a lot of roles,” Murphy said. “Our village and utility staff are honest and loyal workers who care about making sure we have a great place to live.”

Murphy recently received an honor among public power leaders during the American Public Power Association’s National Conference. The Larry Hobart Seven Hats award, aptly named to recognize managers of small public power utilities who wear many “hats,” was given to Murphy during the final day of the conference.

Murphy began his career with the village in 1997 as an apprentice line technician. Over his tenure, the utility implemented new advanced metering infrastructure, or “smart meters.” It also converted streetlights to LEDs and completed a microgrid study at the Sauk Prairie police station. Murphy became the director of public works in 2016. Since then, the utility has only grown under his leadership. The village has made significant upgrades to the system, increasing redundancy and reliability.

All these projects are key examples of how Murphy, as an award recipient, plays a pivotal role in foreseeing what is needed for the future of the utility and oversees work both in Village Hall and out in the field. The seven hats award requires that managers have leadership roles in planning and design, administration, public relations, field supervision, accounting, human resources and community leadership.

Murphy dedicates his time locally. In addition, Murphy spends time in working groups to understand more about new or upcoming industry trends and keep updated on evolving technology.

Brooks received the Spence Vanderlinden Public Official Award, which recognizes local officials who have contributed to the ongoing success of public power and the association. Brooks, specifically, served for decades as an advocate for Evansville.

Not only did he serve in public office for the community, he joined the APPA Policy Makers Council in 2015. That position meant he was speaking to Congressional representatives on behalf of the city and Evansville Light & Water. Brooks took countless trips to participate in APPA’s annual legislative rally and its fly-in. He took time to write to representatives. He called them with concerns or to explain how current legislation would affect the city.

As part of the policy makers council, Brooks advocated on topics such as climate policy, reducing emissions, energy infrastructure investments and preserving local control for public power communities; all with the goal of ensuring reliable and affordable energy powers nearly 4,000 homes. He was elected to a one-year term as council chair in 2022.

APPA recognizes utilities that provide the safe and smart delivery of electricity. Brooks championed Evansville Light & Water’s efforts that earned the utility designation from APPA as both a Reliable Public Power Provider and Smart Energy Provider.

Recipients of the reliable public power designation, which lasts three years, demonstrate proficiency in reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. Smart energy provider designees are nationally recognized for making the effort to incorporate sustainability and efficiency while maintaining affordability.

As the leader of a small municipal utility, Murphy also takes time to advocate for public power. As a member of joint action agency WPPI Energy, which is made up of 51 locally owned utilities in Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Iowa, Prairie du Sac Utilities believes in the shared strength of collaboration. That support extends to helping throughout the country. The utility sent crews to help Florida workers with restoration after Hurricane Milton swept through in October, which was familiar territory to Murphy, who spent nine days in Florida in 2017 helping local restoration efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

This isn’t the first award for Murphy, whose utility was recently recognized by Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin for its work to keep electric crews and utility staff safe.

“Everyone at our utility works to ensure we can go home at the end of the day knowing we’ve provided safe, reliable, affordable, responsive service,” Murphy said. “That comes with being a small utility. We all work hard for the more than 4,000 people who call the village home.”