Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) Designation

New River Light & Power Earns Designation as a Reliable Public Power Provider

Boone, North Carolina | May 2, 2023

New River Light and Power (NRLP) has earned a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)® designation from the American Public Power Association for providing reliable and safe electric service. 

RP3 logo

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. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. NRLP joins 271 public power utilities nationwide that hold the RP3 designation.

“Receiving an RP3 designation is a great honor signifying a utility has demonstrated commitment to industry best practices,” says Troy Adams, chair of APPA’s RP3 Review Panel and general manager at Manitowoc Public Utilities, Wisconsin. “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.”

Ed Miller, general manager of NRLP, said the utility “couldn’t be prouder to be honored with this designation.”

“This is an important way NRLP is helping to carry out App State’s mission, and it’s the culmination of a lot of work from a lot of people who really care about powering our community,” Miller said. “Receiving this designation is further motivation for us to continue improving our operations and service to our customers.”

It was also announced recently that NRLP was awarded the Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2022 by the American Public Power Association.

NRLP earned third place in its category based on worker-hours of annual worker exposure.

In April of 2023, it was announced that NRLP earned the national award for Excellence in Reliability for significantly exceeding the 5 year average for all U.S. electric utilities for reliable electric service.

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The American Public Power Association has offered the RP3 designation for 18 years now. The Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 49 million people in 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. The Association advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations.