Sun Prairie Utilities Honored for Safety, Employee Recognized for Outstanding Service
Sun Prairie Utilities Honored for Safety, Employee Recognized for Outstanding Service
SUN PRAIRIE (Wis.) — Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin (MEUW) recognized several of its public power members, including an employee of Sun Prairie Utilities and the utility itself, during its annual conference.
Andrew Hirvela was among the individuals recognized by MEUW at the association’s 96th Annual Conference in Sun Prairie on May 14. Hirvela was honored with the Meritorious Service Award, which is presented to individuals to recognize outstanding service/achievement, or other recognizable acts while an employee of an MEUW member utility, or in service to MEUW.
“An association is nothing without the people who make it special,” said MEUW President and CEO Tim Heinrich. “The individuals recognized by MEUW embody the mission to unify and strengthen community-owned utilities in Wisconsin. Honoring the folks who demonstrate a commitment to public power is important to our continued success.”
Hirvela has gone above and beyond for Sun Prairie Utilities and the community. He served as interim utility manager in 2024-2025, and ensured the transition to the new manager went smoothly, balancing his usual work with the manager responsibilities and regularly communicating with staff about the transition and hiring process. Hirvela has been with the utility for over 25 years and still looks for
ways to make it efficient. He holds people accountable, listens to concerns, and brings new ideas to the table.
Sun Prairie Utilities was recognized during the annual conference as well, with a gold category Safety Achievement Award for its safety performance in 2025. Municipal utilities are placed into gold, silver, or bronze categories based on the total number of hours worked, receiving recognition based on the most
incident-free records. The incidence rate used to evaluate utilities is based on the number of work-related recordable injuries or illnesses, compared to the total number of worker-hours during 2025, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“This award highlights our crew's dedication and commitment to a safe work environment. They put in the time and effort to make this possible, and I’m proud they are getting recognized for their outstanding achievement,” explained SPU General Manager Jill Weiss.
Formed in 1928, MEUW is the state association providing safety services, leadership and management training, advocacy, and member support to 81 municipal electric utilities across Wisconsin. Collectively, these public power utilities distribute more than 11 percent of the electricity in Wisconsin and most have century-old roots in serving their communities. Municipal utilities operate on a not-for-profit basis
overseen by a local governing board composed of local citizens and elected officials.
To learn more, visit meuw.org or sunprairieutilities.com
For Sun Prairie Utilities’ news, visit sunprairieutilities.com/newsroom or
follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.
Media Contact: Cora Seibt, Communications Coordinator,
(608) 837 - 5500, cseibt@myspu.org
Andrew Hirvela was among the individuals recognized by MEUW at the association’s 96th Annual Conference in Sun Prairie on May 14. Hirvela was honored with the Meritorious Service Award, which is presented to individuals to recognize outstanding service/achievement, or other recognizable acts while an employee of an MEUW member utility, or in service to MEUW.
“An association is nothing without the people who make it special,” said MEUW President and CEO Tim Heinrich. “The individuals recognized by MEUW embody the mission to unify and strengthen community-owned utilities in Wisconsin. Honoring the folks who demonstrate a commitment to public power is important to our continued success.”
Hirvela has gone above and beyond for Sun Prairie Utilities and the community. He served as interim utility manager in 2024-2025, and ensured the transition to the new manager went smoothly, balancing his usual work with the manager responsibilities and regularly communicating with staff about the transition and hiring process. Hirvela has been with the utility for over 25 years and still looks for
ways to make it efficient. He holds people accountable, listens to concerns, and brings new ideas to the table.
Sun Prairie Utilities was recognized during the annual conference as well, with a gold category Safety Achievement Award for its safety performance in 2025. Municipal utilities are placed into gold, silver, or bronze categories based on the total number of hours worked, receiving recognition based on the most
incident-free records. The incidence rate used to evaluate utilities is based on the number of work-related recordable injuries or illnesses, compared to the total number of worker-hours during 2025, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“This award highlights our crew's dedication and commitment to a safe work environment. They put in the time and effort to make this possible, and I’m proud they are getting recognized for their outstanding achievement,” explained SPU General Manager Jill Weiss.
Formed in 1928, MEUW is the state association providing safety services, leadership and management training, advocacy, and member support to 81 municipal electric utilities across Wisconsin. Collectively, these public power utilities distribute more than 11 percent of the electricity in Wisconsin and most have century-old roots in serving their communities. Municipal utilities operate on a not-for-profit basis
overseen by a local governing board composed of local citizens and elected officials.
To learn more, visit meuw.org or sunprairieutilities.com
For Sun Prairie Utilities’ news, visit sunprairieutilities.com/newsroom or
follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.
Media Contact: Cora Seibt, Communications Coordinator,
(608) 837 - 5500, cseibt@myspu.org
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Cora Seibt Communications Coordinator
- June 10, 2026
- 608-837-5500
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