April 11, 2024

Utilities named for highest standard of excellence in safety, reliability

Member Utilities

Four members of WPPI Energy recently earned a Reliable Public Power Provider designation out of 91 public power utilities named nationally and 13 member utilities were awarded for excellence in safety practices by the American Public Power Association.

RP3 Designation

Recipients of the RP3 designation, which lasts three years, are recognized for demonstrating proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement.

Congratulations to the locally owned, not-for-profit electric utilities to receive the 2024 RP3 designation:

  • City Utilities of Richland Center
  • River Falls Municipal Utilities
  • Sun Prairie Utilities
  • Two Rivers Utilities

“This award demonstrates the strong commitment these utilities have to keeping their lineworkers safe,” said Chris Chartier, WPPI Energy assistant vice president of distribution services. “This work can be dangerous, and the number one goal for utilities is making sure everyone gets home safely at the end of the day.”

Chartier was recently nominated to serve on APPA’s RP3 committee and attended the Engineering & Operations Conference in New Orleans from April 7-10, where the awards were announced. His expertise has helped many WPPI Energy members achieve RP3 status since he first served on the committee from 2006 to 2014.

These designated utilities join other members of WPPI that received the RP3 award in 2022 and 2023: Kaukauna Utilities, Menasha Utilities, Plymouth Utilities, Waunakee Utilities and Waupun Utilities.

Safety Award of Excellence

The APPA also granted 146 public power utilities the Safety Award of Excellence, including 13 members of WPPI Energy. Recipients were categorized by the number of employee hours worked and ranked by the highest number of incident-free records and overall safety programs and culture in 2023.

Congratulations to the utilities that received this award:

  • City Utilities of Richland Center
  • Columbus Utilities
  • Evansville Water & Light
  • Hartford Utilities
  • Kaukauna Utilities
  • Menasha Utilities
  • New London Utilities
  • River Falls Municipal Utilities
  • Stoughton Utilities
  • Sun Prairie Utilities
  • Two Rivers Utilities
  • Waunakee Utilities
  • Waupun Utilities