(KANSAS CITY, Kan.) —The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has earned a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3®) designation from the American Public Power Association for providing reliable and safe electric service.
This year, 91 utilities earned the designation, and a total of 254 public power utilities nationwide hold the RP3 designation.
BPU is one of 112 public utility companies in the nation to receive the Reliable Public Power Provider Diamond Award from the American Public Power Association (APPA). Prior to this designation, BPU has been an RP3 Platinum Award winner since 2006.
The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key areas: reliability, safety, training and system improvement. The measurements are based on sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity.
“Receiving an RP3 designation is a great honor signifying a utility has demonstrated commitment to industry best practices,” said Jeremy Ash, Chair of APPA’s RP3 Review Panel and Chief Operating Officer at the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, Kansas City, Kansas.
"And ultimately, the culture developed from this pursuit of excellence and continued improvement through the RP3 program results in measurable value delivered to the local community,” he said.
This is the nineteenth year that RP3 recognition has been offered. A full list of designees is available at www.PublicPower.org.
About APPA
The American Public Power Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 49 million people in 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. APPA advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training and operations.
About BPU
BPU’s water department was originally created in 1909, and its electric utility was operational in 1912. The purpose of the utility, then and to this day, is to provide the highest quality electric and water services at the lowest possible cost. Today the publicly owned utility serves approximately 65,000 electric and 53,000 water customers, primarily in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The mission of the utility and its employees is “to focus on the needs of our customers, to improve the quality of life in our community while promoting safe, reliable and sustainable utilities.” BPU’s Web site is www.bpu.com.