Frank E. Winkler Manager, Economic Development and Groton Utilities Spokesman

It takes a combination of business entities to make an area’s economy work.  As we know, some are small, some are big and some are simply larger than we are willing to admit or accept.

If you add the fact of municipal ownership to the equation, then the mix becomes more interesting and more dynamic.

Groton Utilities is one of those municipally owned and operated businesses which exist in various parts of the country. The businesses are usually associated with utilities. This is the case for Groton Utilities which is owned by the City of Groton.

Our origins are in the utility industry, specifically water and electric.  More than 100 years ago, the City’s fore founders decided to buy a local, privately owned water and electric company.  Originally the focus was on street lighting.  Today, the focus is to power a combination of homes, a pharmaceutical company, a submarine builder, small and medium businesses, and yes, we still provide electricity for those street lights.

For 106 years, we have prided ourselves on delivering timely, responsive and quality customer service.  People think we simply sell electricity, water, cable television, Internet service and digital phone service.  But, service is indeed our core business.

Part of the responsibility of a business is not only being a part of the community, but also giving back to the community.  It may be something like co-sponsoring the summer concert series, Concerts in the Park, or the winter concert series, City Cabaret.  Or it may be supporting the Groton Fall Festival and the Groton Holiday Lights Parade.

Service after all is a commitment not only to our customers, but also to the community.  While the city owns the utilities, our service areas extend beyond our boundaries.  We serve our neighbors in the rest of Greater Groton and provide certain services to the surrounding towns.

The business of business becomes more complex as time passes.  It is no longer acceptable to promote yourself simply as a pursuer of profits, but you must also be a community partner.

Groton Utilities has tried to strike that important balance between our business responsibilities and our community commitments.  We will continue to try to maintain that delicate balance.

Sincerely,
Frank E. Winkler
Manager, Economic Development and
Groton Utilities Spokesman

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