June 16, 2023
App State’s New River Light and Power celebrates Public Power Month of Giving
By Mariana Greene
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) celebrated Public Power Month of Giving — a monthlong event in which not-for-profit public power utilities engage in volunteer activities in their communities — by participating in volunteer efforts around the town of Boone.
NRLP staff spent the afternoon of June 8 cleaning up the Winkler’s Creek trash trout with MountainTrue’s Watauga Riverkeeper program.
NRLP employees also demonstrated their commitment to community service on June 16, designated Public Power’s Day of Giving, by joining forces with the Hospitality House of Northwestern NC. This year's Public Power Day of Giving was dedicated to supporting this vital organization, which provides shelter, meals, and support services to individuals experiencing homelessness in the region.
Throughout the afternoon, NRLP staff members dedicated their time to cleaning and organizing the facilities, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming environment for the residents. Additionally, they enthusiastically assisted with meal preparation. NRLP’s partnership with Hospitality House extends far beyond a day of service through the Good Neighbor Round Up Program, a community effort to help neighbors in need keep the lights on. Donations are accepted year-round, and anyone requiring assistance can visit the Hospitality House website at hosphouse.org.
"The Hospitality House plays a crucial role in our community by offering assistance to individuals facing difficult circumstances," stated Matt Makdad, NRLP supervising engineering. "We are proud to support the efforts of the Hospitality House and our community by helping neighbors in need keep the power on through the Round Up program."
Even as the Public Power Month of Giving ends, NRLP remains dedicated to supporting the community and looks forward to further opportunities to make a positive impact.
“Whether through environmental initiatives, community outreach, or collaborations with local nonprofits, NRLP remains steadfast in its commitment to giving back and ensuring the prosperity of the communities they serve,” said NRLP General Manager Ed Miller.
This is the first year that the American Public Power Association has celebrated a Public Power Month of Giving. Since 2008, APPA has held an annual Public Power Day of Giving in conjunction with its National Conference, where volunteers spend a day with local service organizations in the conference host community or organize a local event in which more employees can participate.
For more information about Appalachian State University's New River Light and Power, visit nrlp.appstate.edu.
About App State
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
About App State’s New River Light and Power
For more than 100 years, Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) — a nonprofit electric utility operated by the Division of Finance and Operations — has provided power to Western North Carolina residents. Today, NRLP serves nearly 9,000 residential and commercial customers who reside in and near the town of Boone. In January 2022, the utility began purchasing its electricity from Carolina Power Partners — a partnership that opens greater renewable energy opportunities.
In partnership with App State’s Office of Sustainability, Facilities Operations and Renewable Energy Initiative, NRLP has assisted with various energy efficiency projects across campus, including installing solar panels and providing funding for the Broyhill Wind Turbine located on Bodenheimer Drive. The utility holds the American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation for providing reliable and safe electric service, and approximately $650,000 of its budget is reserved annually for contributions to App State’s general scholarship fund.
About the American Public Power Association
The American Public Power Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. APPA represents public power before the federal government to protect the interests of the more than 49 million people that public power utilities serve, and the 93,000 people they employ. It advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations. Its members strengthen their communities by providing superior service, engaging citizens, and instilling pride in community-owned power. More at https://www.publicpower.org/
