Latest news with #AmericanPublicPowerAssociation
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Greenville Utilities Commission wins APPA Safety Award
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — The American Public Power Association (APPA) recently gave the Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC) a major award. GUC was given the APPA Safety Award of Excellence for ensuring safe practices happen within their electrical services. Diamond level is the highest recognition that can be received from APPA and GUC earned it by only having two recordable injuries within 275,830 hours worked by 145 employees. Only one of those injuries resulted in a loss of work, totaling five days. 'Our employees have worked hard for many years now to build a safety culture where everyone is keeping an eye on one another and speak up if they see something unsafe,' said GUC Director of Electric John Worrell. 'It's very rewarding when national organizations such as APPA recognize those efforts, and it reinforces the fact that our safety programs are making a difference.' The GUC started using their Situational Leadership Model in 2022 to train their employees, leading to their seriousness of safety. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Austin Utilities recognized for reliable electric service to the community
Apr. 21—Austin Utilities has received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2024. The recognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA), a trade group that represents more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities. "We are proud to receive this recognition. It is a testament to the hard work of all our staff to ensure that we keep Austin powered," said Mark Nibaur, general manager at Austin Utilities. APPA helps electric utilities track power outage and restoration data through its subscription-based eReliability Tracker service. Once per year, APPA's Reliability Team compares this data to national statistics tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration for all types of electric utilities. "Year after year, data consistently demonstrate public power utilities provide highly reliable service." said APPA Director of Research and Development Paul Zummo. "The utilities recognized here are truly elite when it comes to keeping the lights on. Their communities should be proud of the hard work and dedication of their local power providers as they earn this truly deserved recognition." Nationwide, the average public power customer has their lights out for less than half the amount of time that customers of other types of utilities do. "Our system is constantly being improved by installing underground lines in areas that were previously overhead. Focusing on the lines trapped in the backyards where trees are difficult to trim and the lines that are hard to get to. Last year we put 65,000 feet of underground cable in, this commitment to upgrading to underground has made a big impact on reliability. We rebuild overhead lines to higher standards than before and our tree trimming program covers a quadrant of town annually. All of this results in reliability numbers that are above the industry average." said Bill Bumgarner, Electric Distribution Supervisor at Austin Utilities. For more information on Austin Utilities and its commitment to reliability, visit
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Willmar Municipal Utilities recognized for electric reliability
Apr. 19---- The Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission on Monday was informed that was recognized nationally by the American Public Power Association for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2024. "We are proud to receive this recognition. It is a testament to the hard work of all our staff to ensure that we keep Willmar powered," said Jeron Smith, general manager of Willmar Municipal Utilities, in an April 2 news release from the association that was included in the packet of meeting materials for the Utilities Commission. During Monday's meeting, Smith noted that only utilities in the top 25% receive the certificate of recognition and thanked staff for their hard work. A graphic included in the news release shows that Willmar Municipal Utilities only had 34 minutes of electric outage in 2024 and the average of all the electric utilities in the United States is 149 minutes per year. The American Public Power Association is a trade group that represents more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities. It helps electric utilities track power outage and restoration data through its subscription-based eReliability Tracker service, according to the news release. The association's reliability team compares this data annually to national statistics tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration for all types of electric utilities. "Year after year, data consistently demonstrate public power utilities provide highly reliable service." said American Public Power Association Director of Research and Development Paul Zummo. "The utilities recognized here are truly elite when it comes to keeping the lights on. Their communities should be proud of the hard work and dedication of their local power providers as they earn this truly deserved recognition." Nationwide, the average public power customer has their lights out for less than half the amount of time that customers of other types of utilities do. For more information on Willmar Municipal Utilities and its commitment to reliability, visit
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Austin Utilities recognized as a reliable public power provider
Apr. 14—Austin Utilities has earned a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation from the American Public Power Association for providing reliable and safe electric service. The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. "Receiving an RP3 designation is a great honor signifying a utility has demonstrated commitment to industry best practices," said Jeremy Ash, Chair of APPA's RP3 Review Panel and General Manager at Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, Kansas. "And ultimately, the culture developed from this pursuit of excellence and continued improvement through the RP3 program results in measurable value delivered to the local community." Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. Austin Utilities joins more than 250 public power utilities nationwide that hold the RP3 designation. "We couldn't be prouder to be honored with this designation," said Mark Nibaur, General Manager of Austin Utilities. "This is the culmination of a lot of work from a lot of people who really care about powering our community. But this designation is not a final destination. We are committed to continuing to look for ways to improve our operations and service to our customers."
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
JEA lineworkers show off skills, take top honors in National Lineworkers Rodeo
Several lineworkers from JEA showed off their incredible talents and took home a number of awards in the process in the American Public Power Association's 23rd annual Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo in Roseville, CA. The annual rodeo is a series of events displaying skills and safe work practices of professional lineworkers. The events are judged based on the worker's ability, safety, neatness, work practices, equipment handling, and timely event completion. The National Lineworkers Rodeo has two levels of competition: apprentice and journeyman. Apprentice consists of workers who are newer to the trade, while journeyman have years of experience. Apprentice Ryan Kornegay took home several awards, including first in Overall Apprentice and Sidewalk Guy Installation and second in Lightning Arrester Jumper Replacement. Apprentice Noah Sapp took home first in Lightning Arrester Jumper Replacement and second in Sidewalk Guy Installation and the Obstacle Course events. JEA's journeyman team, consisting of David Hicken, Caleb Macabitas, and Cody Stokes, finished second in the Overall Journeyman Team category and third in the Double Dead End Bell Change Out and Hurtman Rescue events. According to JEA spokesperson, 52 utilities from across the nation fielded competitors in the apprentice and journeyman competitions from community-owned electric utilities. 'We are proud of our lineworkers, particularly knowing how hard they trained for this competition. The apprentices and teams showed their skills in competition, but these events go beyond that. It's also about showcasing their training, safety, and sharing appreciation for the craft,' said JEA CEO and Managing Director Vickie Cavey.
