Georgetown Utility Systems Receives National Recognition for Reliability and Safety

Georgetown Utility Systems has been recognized recently in two national recognition programs by the American Public Power Association, which represents more than 2,000 public power utilities in the U.S.

Georgetown was one of 29 electric utilities in the nation to earn Reliable Public Power Provider, or RP3 status this month. Georgetown earned the platinum level recognition for providing reliable and safe electric service to its customers. The recognition was based on a review of the electric utility operations by a panel of 18 experts from across the nation.

The RP3 designation recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. Criteria within each category are based on sound business practices and represent a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. In total, 219 of the more than 2,000 public power utilities nation-wide hold the RP3 designation.

“RP3 utilities stand out as industry leaders, who dedicate themselves to providing safe and reliable electricity to their customers,” said Brent McKinney, an electric utility director in Springfield, Missouri and chair of RP3 review panel for APPA. “These designees demonstrate public power’s commitment to constantly improving best practices and raising the bar for other service providers.” McKinney presented the RP3 honors on April 4 during APPA conference in Minneapolis.

Glenn Dishong, utility director for Georgetown Utility Systems, presented the RP3 recognition at the City Council meeting on Tuesday. “There are eight utilities in Texas that are now recognized as Reliable Public Power Providers. There are three recognition levels, gold, platinum, and diamond. Georgetown Utility Systems is platinum—better than gold,” said Dishong.

In addition to the RP3 honor, the Georgetown electric utility also won a safety award at the APPA meeting. The award is based on an annual evaluation of utility’s safety program.

“Our results are that we had 78,000 exposure hours—that means 78,000 hours that the linemen are out there working in a high-voltage environment, and still coming back safe, said Dishong. “We had no incidents. We actually took first place.”

This year 107 utilities nationwide were recognized for the Safety Award of Excellence by APPA.

Georgetown Utility Systems employees are pictured above.

Georgetown Utility Systems will provide 100 percent renewable energy by 2017. Currently more than 90 percent of the city’s energy needs are provided by a wind power contract. To learn more about Georgetown Utility Systems, go to gus.georgetown.org.