MCMINNVILLE WATER & LIGHT EARNS APPA SAFETY AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

June 7, 2023: McMINNVILLE, OR — McMinnville Water and Light has earned the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2022. The utility earned a first-place award in the category for utilities with 60,000-109,999 worker-hours of annual worker exposure.

“Safety needs to be the first thing on every utility employee’s mind as they go about their work," said Jim Boyd, Chair of APPA’s Safety Committee and Electric Operations Safety Manager at Tacoma Power, Tacoma Washington. “The utilities honored by APPA for excellence in this area should be proud of the culture they have instilled in serving their communities.”

Across the country, 283 utilities entered the annual APPA’s annual Safety Awards. Entrants were placed in categories according to their number of worker-hours and ranked based on incident-free records and overall state of their safety programs and culture during 2022. The incidence rate is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2022, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“The safety of our employees is of the highest importance to McMinnville Water and Light,” said General Manager John Dietz. “We are proud to have our employees recognized for the professionalism and quality of work they provide to our company and our customers.”

The Safety Awards have been held annually for more than 65 years. APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.

MCMINNVILLE WATER AND LIGHT RECEIVES APPA PLATINUM-LEVEL DESIGNATION

March 28, 2022: MCMINNVILLE, OR — McMinnville Water & Light has earned a Platinum Level Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) ® designation from the American Public Power Association (APPA) for providing dependable and safe electric service.

The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Designation levels (Diamond, Platinum, & Gold) are achieved based on meeting certain qualifying criteria. Applications are reviewed by an 18-member panel comprised of national utility experts in safety, transmission and distribution, as well as system planning.  MW&L earned a “Gold” level designation in 2019 scoring 87.5 out of 100 total points.  In 2022, MW&L earned the “Platinum” level designation and was awarded 97 out of 100 total points. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. MW&L joins 274 public power utilities nationwide that hold the RP3 designation.

“I think over the last year or so, we’ve seen the vital importance of running a reliable and safe utility,” says Aaron Haderle, Chair of APPA’s RP3 Review Panel and Manager of Transmission and Distribution Operations at ‎Kissimmee Utility Authority, Florida. “The utilities receiving the RP3 designation have proven that they are committed to running a top-notch public power utility by implementing industry best practices.”

“Achieving this designation is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of McMinnville Water & Light staff to provide safe, reliable service to our customers. I’m really proud of our team and the quality service they provide to the community,” said Scott Rosenbalm, Electric Division Director of McMinnville Water & Light.

 

L to R: Electric Division Director Scott Rosenbalm, General Manager John Dietz, Engineering & Operations Assistant (Electric Division) Jen Hawkins, General Foreman Gene Crowston

###

McMinnville Water & Light is one of the oldest Utilities in the Pacific Northwest and has been providing reliable water and electric services to our community since 1889. Our Mission is to provide our customers sustainable, high quality services that enhance the vitality of McMinnville. For more information, visit mc-power.com.

The American Public Power Association has offered the RP3 designation for the past 15 years. APPA 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.