RP3 News

Electric System Named One of Nation's Best

Clayton Public Power, known by most residents as the “Electric Department,” has been named one of the top performing utilities in the nation by the American Public Power Association.

Clayton residents enjoy the “highest degree” of reliable and safe electric service, said APPA Review Panel Chairman Paul Allen in awarding Clayton the title of Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3).

“RP3 designees exemplify the highest standards of utility operation,” Allen said.

The award, given annually to the elite of the nation's more than 2,000 municipal and non-profit power agencies, went to just 84 this year.

“We're excited to be thought of so highly by our peers,” said Electric System Director Ronnie Wood. “This honor was earned by all of us here.”

Town Manager Steve Biggs told the Town Council that Wood has done “a remarkable job” over the last few years in upgrading the system's performance.

“We're very proud of this accomplishment,” Biggs said. “We're very fortunate to have a good crew and a good leader.”

Electric systems are judged each year in four main areas:
o Reliability
o Safety
o Training
o System Improvement

“We've done quite a bit of work over the last few years in all those areas,” Wood said. “But, of course, the purpose was to provide the kind of electric service to the citizens of Clayton that they deserve and have grown accustomed to.”

Outages in recent years have been repaired quickly, and the number of outages has declined sharply due to an extensive preventive maintenance program.

“Excellent job,” beamed Councilman Robert Ahlert.

Councilman Michael Grannis praised the system “for a job well done. This is, obviously, something that is difficult to achieve.”

Mayor Jody McLeod, wearing one of the Electric System's new green RP3 shirts, was all smiles in receiving the award from Wood.