Media Contact: Regina Davis, 202-898-9382, rdavis@naruc.org

Anybody Can Serve, So Let’s Conserve

WASHINGTON (January 13, 2023) — This year, as in years past, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and public utility commissions across the nation encourage the public to observe MLK Day on January 16 as a day of community and utility service. Since 2008, when the Association passed its resolution honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., this day is recognized as NARUC’s ‘Day of Utility Service.’

Because MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities, NARUC recommends that people find and engage in utility-related community service projects, find ways to help their neighbors or promote and practice energy conservation.

The 2008 NARUC resolution states, in part:

RESOLVED, That Americans are encouraged to turn down the thermostat, weatherize their homes, change their incandescent light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs and install water-saving devices; and be it further
RESOLVED, That Americans should take these utility initiatives not only in their homes, but throughout their communities.

“MLK Day is an ideal opportunity for individuals to engage in meaningful activities that serve their communities,” said NARUC President Michael Caron of the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. “We encourage everyone across the country to celebrate the day with acts of utility and community service.”

As part of its observance, NARUC promotes an ‘Anybody Can Serve, So Let’s Conserve’ campaign to demonstrate how to benefit communities through acts of conservation and basic lifestyle changes.

The resolution designating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a Utility Day of Service was adopted by the NARUC Board of Directors at the Winter Committee Meetings in Washington, D.C., on February 20, 2008. The resolution is available at bit.ly/NARUCMLKDAY. Follow NARUC and related social media posts for MLK Day using the hashtags #MLKDAY, #DayOn and #UtilityService.

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About NARUC

NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889 whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC’s member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC represents the interests of state public utility commissions before the three branches of the federal government.