For 125 years, Owensboro Municipal Utilities, a cornerstone of its community, has provided reliable, quality and essential services to our community. A publicly-owned water, electric and telecommunications provider, OMU has rich history of local people providing local services.
As the largest municipally owned electric and water system in Kentucky, OMU currently serves over 27,000 electric customers and 26,000 water customers.
This extensive service is supported by significant infrastructure developments, such as the Elmer Smith Power Plant, which began operations in 1964 and played a pivotal role in powering the city for decades before its decommissioning in 2020.
While OMU has served its community for over a century, it has remained a reliable provider by using technology, strategic initiatives and innovative approaches. Whereas the closing of the Elmer Smith Station was a difficult decision, it allowed the utility to stabilize rates for its customers. Another example is the expansion of the Cavin Water Treatment Plant from a 10-million-gallon-per-day facility to a more efficient, 30 MGD, and state-of-the art facility. OMU’s telecommunications division explores new and emerging technologies to maintain its fiber optic network and provide high-speed connectivity.
The timeline presented on this page offers a detailed overview of OMU’s milestones and achievements, illustrating its ongoing mission to provide reliable, quality utility services at the most economical cost to the community.
Residents vote to build electric utility
Dissatisfied with the service they receive from a private power company, Owensboro residents vote 1,771 to 63 to build their own electric utility.
Residents choose to build water system
Unhappy with the water quality from a private water plant, Owensboro residents vote 1,942 to 444 to build their own deep well system.
That same year on December 31 at 4:25 p.m., electricity flowed from the new city-owned electric system for the first time.
OMU is born
The city-owned electric and water systems are combined to form the present-day OMU.
Expansion of water facilities, installation of scrubbers at power plant
OMU expanded its water facilities by one-third in 1995 when the Cavin Plant on U.S. Highway 60 went into operation. That same year, the Elmer Smith Station installed emission control equipment called scrubbers to reduce SO2 emissions.
Construction of fiber-optic network starts
OMU begins building a fiber-optic network for its own use to increase reliability in its systems, with plans to make service available for large business and industrial customers.
High-speed internet launches for businesses
High-speed internet connections and related services become available to business at affordable prices.
OMU turns 100
OMU celebrates its 100th birthday with a new millennium.
Telephone services offered to businesses
OMU adds telephone services to its list of offerings for business telecommunications customers.
Pilot program launches to test residential internet
OMU launches a pilot program in the Town & Country neighborhood to test the feasibility of fiber-optic internet services for residential customers.
Water treatment facility expands
The William R. Cavin Water Treatment Facility is expanded from its original 10 million gallon per day treatment capacity to 30 million gallons per day. The $42 million expansion allows for the decommissioning of the Plant A Water Treatment Plant.
Elmer Smith Station ceases operation
The Elmer Smith Generating Station, constructed in 1964, ceases operation due to aging infrastructure and growing regulatory requirements. This decision allows the utility to continue its electric rate stabilization plan on behalf of its customers. The process of decommissioning and demolishing the plant begins shortly after its closure.
Elmer Smith Station stacks are felled
The two stacks of the The Elmer Smith Generating Station are felled. The two towering stacks – 650 and 419 feet tall – were part of Owensboro’s skyline throughout most of the plant’s existence.
Residential Internet now available citywide
With the completed expansion of the fiber-optic network across the city, all residents in OMU’s service area have access to affordable, reliable, locally operated high-speed internet services.
OMU turns 125
OMU celebrates 125 years of local people providing quality, reliable, and affordable services to our community.
