App State’s New River Light and Power celebrates local lineworkers
By Mariana Greene
April 8, 2024
BOONE, N.C. — On two days in April, Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) will join others across the state and nation to celebrate lineworkers and the important work they do to power our lives.
North Carolina Lineworker Appreciation Day is April 8, and National Lineworker Appreciation Day is April 18.
“On these special days and every day, we are grateful for the skilled professionals who keep our community connected,” said Matt Makdad, NRLP general manager. “Our team of lineworkers goes above and beyond every day to ensure safe and reliable power is delivered to the App State Boone campus, the Town of Boone and the surrounding area.”
NRLP lineworkers play a key role in maintaining the community’s electrical infrastructure and the utility’s impressive reliability rating of 99.98%. Sustained outages are rare for NRLP, but when any outages occur, lineworkers are quick to respond and restore power. Most recently, an extreme cold snap caused an outage affecting a large portion of NRLP’s customers in the early hours of Jan. 17. “Our lineworkers responded quickly despite the conditions they faced. In less than three hours, they were able to safely restore power to a community in the middle of some of the coldest temperatures this winter,” said Alan Byrd, NRLP operations superintendent. “I am proud of the work accomplished that day and of the service provided to our customers every day by NRLP lineworkers and staff.” Byrd has 26 years of service at NRLP.
NRLP lineworkers are part of a large network of public power lineworkers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 120,000 lineworkers keep the U.S. electric grid operating safely and reliably. Many serve the one in seven Americans who get their energy from a public power provider, including the community served by NRLP.
For more information about NRLP, visit nrlp.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 Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, 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.
NRLP lineworkers in bucket trucks restore power after vehicle crashed into utility pole.
NRLP lineworkers quickly and safely restore power and replace a utility pole hit by a vehicle in 2023. Photo courtesy of NRLP
