BOONE, N.C. — The achievements of Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power Co. (NRLP) are no less than excellent — so says ElectriCities of North Carolina Inc., which recognized NRLP with a 2018 Public Power Award of Excellence in February.

“We’re excited to see that the hard work we’ve put in — from our customer service representatives to our line crew — has been recognized, not just for maintaining a reliable system, but for meeting all of the pillars of excellence that public power utilities in North Carolina are recognized for,” said Matt Makdad, engineering supervisor at NRLP.

NRLP, which has provided the Town of Boone and surrounding communities with electric power for more than 100 years, was recognized in all five award categories, which align with ElectriCities’ strategic priorities.

The categories:

• Grid Modernization — focuses on promoting investment in public power communities’ electric distribution systems and in technology to ensure safety and reliability, as well as exceeding customer expectations.
• Value of Public Power — highlights public power communities that communicate the value of electric system ownership to key stakeholders.
• Wholesale Power Cost — recognizes public power communities that provide competitive and stable wholesale electric rates that meet the power supply needs of power agency members.
• Workforce Planning and Development — honors public power communities that promote a workforce plan to attract, develop and retain the necessary human talent to provide safe, reliable power and lead public power forward.
• Continuous Improvement — recognizes cities and towns that constantly review and enhance all aspects of public power while focusing on cost reduction and increased efficiencies in current and future operations.

“We were beyond thrilled with all of the submissions for the 2018 Public Power Awards of Excellence,” said ElectriCities CEO Roy Jones. “Our (public power) communities showed up in record numbers this year, and I think that’s a testament to all of the hard work and dedication that employees and community leaders are putting in each day. They are truly at the heart of public power.”

Diana Wilcox, customer service supervisor and business and technology applications analyst for NRLP, said, “The staff at New River has always worked hard to provide reliable power and excellent customer service. We certainly appreciate being recognized for the efforts we put in to taking care of our customers on a daily basis and are encouraged to continue those efforts as we look for new ways to provide services to our customers.”

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About ElectriCities of North Carolina Inc.

ElectriCities is a membership organization that includes public power communities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. For more than 50 years, ElectriCities has helped North Carolina public power communities provide safe, reliable and affordable power to their customers. The organization serves more than 1.2 million people in North Carolina public power communities, including 32 members of the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency and 19 members of the North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1. Learn more at https://www.electricities.com.

About App State's New River Light and Power

For 110 years, New River Light and Power (NRLP) — a nonprofit electric utility operated by Appalachian State University — has provided reliable power to residents of Western North Carolina. The utility currently serves approximately 9,000 residential and commercial customers in and around Boone, including the university. NRLP is dedicated to expanding access to higher education, contributing approximately $650,000 annually to the university’s general scholarship fund. Additionally, the utility awards NRLP scholarships to support graduating Watauga County high school seniors pursuing an App State education, as well as those interested in pursuing a career in linework. NRLP holds the American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Provider and Smart Energy Provider designations, recognizing its commitment to safety, efficiency, renewable energy and environmental stewardship. Learn more about App State’s New River Light and Power at https://nrlp.appstate.edu.

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, cost-effective education. 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.