Company Profile
Cedar Falls Utilities
Company Overview
About CFU
Our Vision: Cedar Falls Utilities strives to achieve a standard of excellence as an industry leader and a trusted provider of utility services to its customers and community.
Our mission: To provide our customers with innovative, high-quality services that bring the best value to the community.
Cedar Falls, Iowa is a progressive community of more than 36,000. Home to the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls offers a wide array of recreational and cultural amenities, first-rate public schools and an outstanding quality of life. There are over 80 miles of hard-surfaced recreational trails in the Cedar Falls area. Situated near U.S. Highway 20, residents of Cedar Falls can easily travel to Des Moines, Omaha, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Kansas City.
Company History
Cedar Falls Utilities is a leader in the utility industry with the largest four-service utility in Iowa. CFU is a combination municipal utility comprised of separate Electric, Natural Gas, Water and Communications Utilities, with employees dedicated to meeting the needs of the citizens of Cedar Falls, Iowa. The CFU office building is located on Utility Parkway across the street from the Streeter Station Power Plant.
The Cedar Falls Electric Utility was established in 1913. The electric system presently serves over 15,000 customers and is the major revenue producer in the combined utility operation.
The City of Cedar Falls purchased its gas distribution system in 1928 and shortly therafter constructed a manufactured gas plant. Natural gas became available in 1954 and today is transported to Cedar Falls by Northern Natural Gas.
The Cedar Falls water supply consists of eight ground water wells that draw from the Cedar Valley Aquifer. The eight wells range in depth from 147-275' deep. Water obtained from the aquifer is of such high quality that only chlorine and fluoride are added at each well site.
The Communications Utility was established in 1994. This 750-megahertz HFC state-of-the-art communications platform provides the means to offer a wide variety of services including cable TV, Internet access, email and high-speed data transfer capability.
Benefits
Benefits Summary
One of the advantages of working for Cedar Falls Utilities is the complete comprehensive program of employee benefits that are provided to CFU employees.
Health and Vision Insurance
Medical and vision insurance is provided for employees and their families. CFU maintains a self-funded plan with Wellmark and Avesis as the plan administrators. A provider network in the Cedar Valley includes over 95% of the area physicians, pharmacies and hospitals. The current plan includes an annual deductible of $200 single and $400 family with 90/10 co-insurance. This plan requires a monthly contribution of $33 for single coverage and $182 for family coverage through payroll deduction.
Dental Insurance
Dental insurance is provided by Delta Dental. A $7 monthly premium for dependent coverage is paid by the employee through payroll deduction.
Life and Long Term Disability Insurance
Term life insurance is provided and CFU pays the entire premium. Employees are eligible for long term disability coverage after 30 days of CFU employment. Voluntary supplemental term life coverage is also available.
Paid Vacation
Employees accrue vacation on a monthly basis. In general, the amounts of vacation earned are one week in the first year, two weeks in the second year, three weeks in the eighth year, four weeks in the fifteenth year and a maximum of five weeks after 22 years.
Flexible Days
In addition to vacation, three flexible holidays are granted to employees each calendar year.
Compensatory Time
Compensatory time off (Comp Time 1) can be earned by hourly employees through good attendance. Two days are earned by employees who use less than 16 hours of sick leave in a calendar year and one day for under 32 hours. Comp Time 2 is also available to these employees as overtime converted into time off. There is a 40-hour maximum bank for Comp Time 2.
Paid Holidays
Employees receive eight paid holidays during each calendar year.
Sick Leave
Personal and family sick leave benefits are available to CFU employees. Most employees earn one day per month to a maximum of 180 days accumulated sick leave. Bereavement leave may also be chargeable against sick leave.
Cafeteria Benefits
The flexible spending account provides for the use of pre-tax dollars to pay for medical expenses not covered by group insurance and also for dependent or childcare expenses. Advantage Administrators of Waverly is the group plan administrator.
457 Deferred Compensation
A deferred comp plan is available to CFU employees and managed by either the ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company or the Great American Life Insurance Company. Contributions are made through payroll deduction with a $50 monthly minimum contribution. There is a $600 annual company match for eligible employees.
IPERS
The Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS) provides excellent retirement benefits for CFU employees. Four years of public employment is required to be a vested member. Employees have 5.95% of their gross pay withheld on a pre-tax basis and CFU pays 8.93% to IPERS on all covered earnings.
Workers Compensation
CFU employees are covered under Iowa workers’ compensation for all accidents and injuries that occur on the job. This includes any health impairment that occurs as a result of employment activities or exposures. The insurance carrier for CFU is IMWCA (Iowa Municipalities Workers’ Compensation Association). CFU is concerned about maintaining a healthy and safe working environment for its employees.
Employee Assistance Program
EAP services are free to any CFU employee and their immediate family member. An EAP is a confidential referral service to assist employees in resolving their personal problems. CFU uses the Allen Hospital Employee Assistance Program.
Educational Assistance
CFU provides 100% educational assistance benefits for employees who satisfactorily complete job-related training. A 50% reimbursement on approved college or university credit courses may be earned by the employee on training that is not job-related.
Employee Recognition
Employees with service anniversaries of five year intervals will receive special recognition. The employee will be given the opportunity to select a merchandise award from a custom catalog.
Employee Recreation & Wellness
Social activities are planned by the Employee Recreation Committee. An Employee Wellness Committee is involved in promoting a healthy lifestyle for employees by sponsoring wellness activities. A fitness facility is located in a separate building for employee use.