Community Tour Given Virtual Platform

BPUB’s annual community tours (one in spring for water/wastewater and one in fall for electrical) are a tradition, but it was a tradition interrupted by the arrival of COVID-19. Thanks to the power of technology, that interruption was only temporary, though.

The water/wastewater tour scheduled for May had to be called off because of county restrictions related to the pandemic and to ensure the safety of both BPUB employees and the community. A year without a community tour didn’t seem right, so something needed to be worked out in order to still at least have an electrical tour in 2020.

There is no substitute for in-person interactions and being able to look at things yourself and ask your own questions, but BPUB wanted to still provide some type of learning experience. The various presenters were able to provide an abbreviated, more curated experience, covering such topics as safety, dangers of meter tampering, Silas Ray Power Plant, the Rio Grande Distribution Substation and a lineman demonstration.

A Q&A session involving members of Executive Management and other BPUB employees was also held. These subject matter experts were able to answer common utility questions, like how to conserve electricity, how BPUB prepares for a hurricane and how it has adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Did you miss the community tour? Not to worry. You can view the finished production here.