April 30, 2008

Bryan Municipal Utilities honored for reliable electric operations

By LOU PENDLETON

Bryan Municipal Utilities was one of 84 of the nation’s 2,000 public power utilities to earn Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) recognition from the American Public Power Association for providing customers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service.

Terry Huval, chair of the APPA Board of Directors, presented Bryan Electric Superintendent Brian Carlin with the award during the association’s annual Engineering & Operations Technical Conference held April 21 in Indianapolis.

“I accepted the award on behalf of our entire team,” said Carlin. “This year we tackled reliability and serviceability areas. We included the Cherry Street substation in capital spending as well as many system improvements. We also further developed our emergency action plan and budgetary documentation.”

This is the second time that Bryan has received the RP3 award. Carlin said that every year, APPA’s RP3 review panel increases the requirements. “We were certified in 2006 for two years. To get recertified, we had to improve on what we have already done,” he said.

“RP3 designees exemplify the highest standards of utility operations,” said Paul Allen, chair of APPA’s RP3 Review Panel. “These utilities are leading the way in providing reliable and safe electric service to their communities.”

The RP3 recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, training and system improvement. Criteria within each category are based on sound business practices and represent a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity.

“This year they emphasized employee training and succession in the criteria,” Carlin said. “The RP3 is a great program because it gives us a timeline and direction on where we need to improve in order to continue certification.”

Nine other public power utilities in Ohio also received the RP3 award: Hamilton, Oberlin, Orrville, Shelby, St. Marys, Tipp City, Versailles, Wadsworth and Westerville. Ohio was second only to North Carolina in the number of award winners in the state. More information and a full list of designees is available at www.APPAnet.org. APPA is the national organization representing more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community- and state- owned electric utilities. It is located in Washington, D.C.