Electric Utility Receives National Reliability Award - Tree Line USA Utility
City of Tallahassee Electric Utility Receives National Recognition for Reliable and Safe Electric Operations and Tree Line USA Utility Designation
The City of Tallahassee Electric Utility is one of 60 of the nation's more than 2,000 public power utilities to earn Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) recognition from the American Public Power Association for providing customers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service. Paul Allen, vice president, engineering at Nashville, Tenn., Electric Service and chair of APPA's RP3 Review Panel, presented the designees on March 23, during the association's annual Engineering & Operations Technical Conference, held in Austin, Texas.
"We're thrilled to have our certification as an RP3 utility renewed and maintain our position with the other RP3 designees around the country," said Kevin Wailes, General Manager of the Tallahassee Electric Utility. "This recognition is a testament to the quality work our employees do everyday." This is the second time that APPA has recognized Tallahassee Electric Utility as a RP3 Provider.
The RP3 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.
Additionally, the City of Tallahassee Electric Utility was also given an APPA Safety Award for its continued commitment to safety and low incident rate during the past year (2008) being recognized as the second place winner among Public Power Electric Utilities working between 500,000 and 750,000 hours.
The Electric Utility also recently received a First Place Safety Award from the Florida Municipal Electric Association.
Tree Line USA Utility Designation
The City of Tallahassee Electric Utility has also been named a Tree Line USA Utility for the seventh year in a row. The Tree Line USA program is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation (NADF) in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and recognizes utilities that meet three requirements: a program of quality tree care, annual worker training in quality tree care practices and a tree planting and public education program.
Reaffirming its proactive programs preserving and enhancing the community's famous canopy of trees, the City of Tallahassee has also once again been named as a Tree City USA by the NADF. The honor recognizes the City meeting four standards established by the foundation, including having a comprehensive forestry program and a tree care ordinance. This is the seventeenth time Tallahassee has received the prestigious award.