About the Department

Baldwin City Electric Department is made up of two parts: Power Generation and Power Distribution.

Report an Outage

Report an urgent electric issue by calling 785-594-6907.

PLEASE NOTE: WE DO NOT MONITOR COMMUNITY FACEBOOK GROUPS FOR OUTAGE REPORTS. YOU MUST REPORT THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS.

Power Distribution

  • Power Distribution is handled by Pat McComb and four employees. Four of the crew are Journeymen Linemen and one is an apprentice.
  • The line crew handle powerlines mostly within city limits, substation maintenance, tree trimming, and meter installations.
  • Journeymen do a four year apprenticeship, followed by a state certification test. Throughout their career, they must maintain current education.
Now Hiring!

Contact Information

Contact Dave Hill, EDC President

Mon – Fri: 7:00am-4:00pm, plus on call 24/7

1015 Orange Street, Baldwin City, KS 66006

+1-785-594-6907

Electric Distribution Director

Pat McComb
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Power Plant Superintendent

Jeff Winkler
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Staff Page

Power Production or Generation

  • Baldwin City was a leader in power production in the early 20th century, and as a result, still maintains control of their own energy production and distribution.
  • The City is a member of Kansas Municipal Energy Association, which is a regional energy cooperative. We purchase power through KMEA for regular everyday power, which includes a varied portfolio of solar energy, wind energy, and more traditional sources. Our power purchases are currently around 60% renewable energy.
  • There are two power plants in town - the historic one on High Street downtown and the "new" one located at 1015 Orange Street. The new plant came online in 2004. There are a total of five large engines between the two power plants that generate power in case the main feeds fail.
  • Power Plant Supervisor Jeff Winkler and two employees handle both power plants. In emergency power outages, they work around the clock to keep the lights on in Baldwin City.

Services

NOTE: VIN Inspections will be unavailable on Tuesday, May 13th and Thursday, May 15th.

Electric Distribution

Electric distribution gets the power from the substation to homes and businesses.

Find out more

Electric Generation

Electric generation in Baldwin City is essentially a backup plan in case we're disconnected from the regional electric grid.

Find out more

Other information

Utility Billing

  • Utility billing is handled at City Hall, located at 803 8th Street.
  • To sign up for utilities, please come in to City Hall or call 785-594-6427.
More information about Utility Billing →
Searchable City Code Database

Department News & Events

Power & Light Update: Tree on Main Line Into Town
April 29, 2025

A tree fell on the main power feed into town, necessitating removal from the external grid in order to safely cut the tree off of the line. Power was maintained for citizens via internal generation from the City powerplant.

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Powering Baldwin City
May 31, 2024

Have you ever wondered how power gets to your house in Baldwin City? Here's a guide for you.

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Documents

Customer-Owned Renewable Energy Generation Facilities
Document Download Page
No current jobs available for this department.

Baldwin City is a city in Douglas County, Kansas, United States, about 12 miles south of Lawrence and 15 miles west of Gardner. As of the 2020 census, the city population is 4,700. The city is home to Baker University, the state's oldest four-year university.

Upcoming Events
May
6
Council Meeting
7:00pm
Baldwin City Community Center
May
8
Public Works & Utilities Committee Meeting
9:00am
803 8th Street, Baldwin City, KS 66006
Quick Contact

Mon – Fri: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

803 8th Street, Baldwin City, KS 66006

+1-785-594-6427
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