Gastonia’s municipal electric division is winning praise for its reliability and service standards. At the American Public Power Association’s national conference in Raleigh, the APPA recognized the Gastonia utility as a gold-level Reliable Public Power Provider.
“Reliability means more than just keeping the lights on,” said Gary Lutz, a power systems engineer with the City’s electric utility. “This designation indicates that Gastonia Electric meets the industry’s highest standards.”
The Reliable Public Power Provider, or RP3, designation, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. The City of Gastonia’s electric division also earned the RP3 designation in 2015 and is one of more than 240 public power utilities nationwide that have earned an RP3 recognition.
“RP3 is about more than just reliability. It’s about operational excellence,” said Neil James, manager of distribution operations at Santee Cooper, South Carolina, and chair of the association’s RP3 review panel. “These utilities and their communities should be proud to represent the best of the best in the areas of reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement.”
The City of Gastonia has owned and operated its own electric division since 1900 and serves more than 26,000 homes, businesses and industries. “This is a great honor,” Lutz said. “We take a lot of pride in the work we do to power this community. We are very happy to get this recognition for our hard work and commitment to quality customer service.”
