In Mishawaka, essential utilities are foundational to the city’s high quality of life, safety and security. Mishawaka Utilities, rooted in the guiding principle known as “The Mishawaka Way,” prioritizes community well-being by providing exceptional, non-profit service without profit-driven motives.
“We take care of the city of Mishawaka with the services we provide,” said Executive Director of Development and Governmental Affairs Matthew Lentsch. “Mishawaka Utilities’ budget is bigger than the City of Mishawaka’s budget by about $20 million. This allows us to make sure things are done right and that we provide good, economical services.”
“The Mishawaka Way” commits to transparency, accountability and community-focused decisions. Mishawaka Utilities operates its electric (MUE), wastewater (MUWW), water (MUW) and business office (MUBO) under a unique, nonprofit model. Unlike shareholder-driven utilities in neighboring areas, Mishawaka Utilities maintains direct, local control over essential services. This autonomy allows the reinvestment of any surplus revenue in stronger infrastructure, better service and reliable systems.
“Our wastewater plants are state-of-the art for this region, and we consistently reinvest in them,” Lentsch said. “This approach is significantly more cost-effective than allowing a for-profit entity to take over. When this happens, local decision-making is lost, and often investor-owned companies prioritize profit over necessary infrastructure investments.”
Mishawaka’s locally controlled electric department, Indiana’s second largest municipal utility, exemplifies the benefits of its nonprofit model with proactive maintenance and sound infrastructure. Local electric rates are 40% lower than neighboring cities and reliability is exceptional, with only six outage hours recorded in 2024. The integrated system of electric, water and wastewater services proves to create lower utility costs for consumers and reliability through Mishawaka Utilities’ long-term investment in technology and infrastructure.
“We owe it to good planning on our part,” Lentsch said. “We invested $40 million in the Juday Creek Wellfield and Water Treatment plant. We put in a new water tower. We are anticipating growth and are replacing the infrastructure in the older part of Mishawaka. We are good stewards of the river with our wastewater.”
Mishawaka Utilities strategically partners with Waste Management for solid waste collection. This collaboration provides access to top-tier waste management while preserving local control over service standards. Without the pressure of profit margins, the focus is on reinvesting funds for wastewater and waste management to maintain a clean, vibrant community.
“The whole thing about being able to rule ourselves, to be in charge of our own utilities, that’s what makes us autonomous,” Lentsch said. “It means we don’t have some big company telling us how our water gets delivered and what happens next. Everyone who works for our utilities, whether it’s electric, water or wastewater, they live right here in the city and they are proud of what they do.”The mission of Mishawaka Utilities is made possible by the dedicated workforce who proudly invest in the community and deliver the high-quality services that power the city.
To learn more about the shared commitment and benefits of the non-profit model, visit mishawaka.in.gov.
