At its March meeting, the Board of Water, Electric and Communications Trustees for Muscatine Power and Water (MPW) reviewed and approved several actions related to renewable energy development, communications services, and community water awareness.
Trustees approved a project summary form authorizing capital expenditures for the 24-megawatt Muscatine Solar 1 project. The approval completes the transition of the project from apower purchase agreement structure to MPW ownership and will enable construction to moveforward as soon as MPW receives approval from the Midcontinent Independent SystemOperator (MISO).
The $48 million authorized investment represents MPW’s second renewable generation project and expands local generation to support customer sustainability goals and diversify the Utility’s power supply portfolio. MPW’s first renewable project, South Fork Wind Farm, located in southern Minnesota, came online in 2016 and includes six wind turbines with a combined capacity of 13 megawatts.
“This step allows customers to see real, visible progress on a locally owned project,” Huston said. “Public power gives MPW the ability to invest in generation resources that align with community values, strengthen reliability and make sense for Muscatine long term.”
Trustees approved rate adjustments for MPW’s Fiber packages effective May 1, 2026. An overall revenue adjustment of 5.5% was approved for TV services. The adjustment is driven by rising programming costs paid by MPW to content providers. Escalating programming fees continue to be the primary driver of video service increases nationwide.
“We know video price increases are impactful for customers, and we work hard to limit them whenever possible,” General Manager, Gage Huston said. “As a municipal utility, MPW carefully manages the costs we can control while continuing to provide services our community values. For every dollar customers pay for their MPW TV package, about $0.79 goes directly to programming costs, with the remaining $0.21 covering local infrastructure and the teams who deliver that service.”
MPW’s video pricing remains competitive with traditional cable TV packages. Several regional providers no longer offer video service to new customers, while others are exiting video service entirely. Looking ahead, MPW continues to evaluate the long-term sustainability of its Fiber TV service given the current marketplace of video options customers have. Trustees also approved phone package price adjustments of $1 per month to offset a federally
required contribution to the Universal Service Fund (USF). The USF, administered by the Federal Communications Commission, supports essential telecommunications services nationwide.
“Our responsibility is to comply with federal requirements,” Huston said. “Local governance allows us to be transparent about why changes occur and how they affect customers.” Trustees approved a resolution requesting Mayor Brad Bark and the Muscatine City Council designate May 3-9, 2026, as Drinking Water Week. The annual observance, coordinated by the American Water Works Association, highlights the importance of safe drinking water and sustained investment in water infrastructure.
“Drinking Water Week is about recognizing both the critical value of clean water, and the people who ensure it is available every day,” Huston said. “Our water team works around the clock – often in challenging conditions – to provide dependable, high-quality drinking water. Recognizing their dedication is an important part of serving our community.” MPW’s February financial results showed a $181,000 loss for the month. Net income of $426,000 was budgeted and the net income in February 2025 was $736,000. The differences were a result of one-time costs associated with issuing $100 million of debt for the Electric Utility on February 25. Mark Roberts, director of finance and administrative services, noted that these one-time costs included underwriting, legal, rating agency, and bond trustee fees to issue the debt. The primary purpose of the debt issuance is to fund MPW’s EcoGen 10 and Muscatine Solar 1 projects.
In other action, the Trustees:
• Approved payment for February 2026 expenditures and transactions for a total of $9,718,784.77.
• Received and placed on file the Muscatine Power and Water’s Employees’ Pension Plan and Investment Record.
• Set date and time of April 28, 2026, at 3:58 p.m. for a public hearing to receive comments from the public on issuance of Water Utility State Revolving Fund Debt not to exceed $2,000,000.
• Received and placed on file the Muscatine Power and Water’s 2025 Annual Report (unaudited).
Submitted by Nick Mussehl.
