PVU Perleberg

PVU Perleberg — formally Prignitzer Energie- und Wasserversorgung GmbH — is a regional municipal utility company headquartered in Perleberg, the district town of Prignitz in northwest Brandenburg, Germany. It supplies electricity, natural gas, heat and water to roughly 22,000 household and small-business customers as well as some industrial customers across the Prignitz region and adjacent parts of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg. The company describes itself as a grown regional enterprise and an employer of 31 dedicated staff, and as a significant purchaser within the regional economy. The company traces its origins to a district heating operation that served the towns of Perleberg, Wittenberge, Bad Wilsnack and Karstädt. It was founded on 21 September 1990 by the then district of Perleberg as sole shareholder, with Niederrheinische Gas- und Wasserwerke GmbH (NGW) of Duisburg chosen as strategic partner; NGW took a 50% stake from 1 January 1991. NGW was later merged into GELSENWASSER AG, which today holds 50% of PVU. The remaining shares are held by the town of Perleberg (26.69%), the Prignitz district (21.24%), the town of Bad Wilsnack (1.07%) and the municipality of Karstädt (1.00%). PVU positions itself around secure supply at fair prices for the Prignitz region, offering electricity, natural gas for heating and cooking, heat and drinking water, along with online services, drinking-water analysis and a fault-reporting hotline. Its managing director is Falko Schindler. As a municipal utility with a mixed public–private ownership structure, PVU is a typical German Stadtwerk: locally rooted, regionally focused and jointly controlled by the communities it serves and a larger energy partner.

PVU Perleberg emerged from a district heating operation that was responsible for supplying district heat to the towns of Perleberg, Wittenberge, Bad Wilsnack and Karstädt in the Prignitz region of northwest Brandenburg. On 21 September 1990, the then district of Perleberg (Kreis Perleberg) founded the company as its sole shareholder, establishing it as the regional energy and water utility. To secure the founding intent, Niederrheinische Gas- und Wasserwerke GmbH (NGW) of Duisburg was brought in as a strategic partner, and from 1 January 1991 NGW held 50% of the company's shares. In the years that followed, NGW — by then a wholly owned subsidiary — was merged into GELSENWASSER AG. As a result, GELSENWASSER AG today holds the 50% stake in PVU. The remaining shares are distributed among the communities served: the town of Perleberg holds 26.69%, the Prignitz district 21.24%, the town of Bad Wilsnack 1.07% and the municipality of Karstädt 1.00%. This mixed ownership structure — a large energy company alongside local authorities — is characteristic of German municipal utilities. Since 1990 PVU has supplied around 22,000 household and small-business customers, as well as some industrial customers, with natural gas, electricity, heat and water. It serves the Prignitz region and parts of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg. The company has grown into an employer of 31 people and a significant purchaser in the regional economy. Its managing director is Falko Schindler. PVU continues to position itself as a reliable regional supplier offering secure supply at fair prices, with services including online customer portals, drinking-water analysis and a fault-reporting hotline.

• 1991

  NGW (Duisburg) acquires 50% of PVU shares as strategic partner.

• 1990

  PVU founded by the then district of Perleberg as sole shareholder.

• NGW merged into GELSENWASSER AG, which now holds the 50% stake.

Secure supply at fair prices for the Prignitz region; a locally rooted municipal utility.

• Electricity

  Electricity supply for the Prignitz region and adjacent areas.

• Natural gas

  Natural gas for heating and cooking.

• Heat

  District heating supply.

• Water

  Drinking water supply and analysis.

1. 1PVU Perleberg official websitepvu-gmbh.de
2. 2PVU Perleberg: Über unspvu-gmbh.de
3. 3Wikidata: PVU Perlebergwikidata.org