Last Updated on May 13, 2025 3:15 pm
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) hasearned national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2024. Therecognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA), a trade grouprepresenting over 2,000 not-for-profit electric utilities.
APPA helps electric utilities track power outage and restoration data through itssubscription-based eReliability Tracker Service. Once per year, APPA’s Reliability Teamcompares this data to national statistics tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration(EIA) for all types of electric utilities.
“It’s encouraging to see year after year that public power’s track record for providing highlyreliable service is backed up by data,” said APPA Director of Research and Development PaulZummo. “These utilities are the best of the best when it comes to keeping the lights on. Theircommunities should be proud of their local power providers and appreciate the hard work thatgoes into earning this recognition.”
Nationwide, the average public power customer loses power for less than half the amount of timethat customers of other types of electrical utilities do. Most customers are served by one of threetypes of electrical utilities — public power, cooperative or investor-owned utilities.
NRLP has earned this recognition for the fifth consecutive year and the seventh time overall.Based on EIA data from 2019–2023, the utility ranks in the top 25% of utilities for SystemAverage Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) performance. This means NRLP customers benefitfrom 99.98% reliability year-round. Major events, such as Hurricane Helene, are excluded fromthe overall reliability index because they do not reflect a utility's underlying ability to operateand maintain the electrical infrastructure.
“We are proud to once again receive this recognition,” said Matthew Makdad, NRLP generalmanager. “It is a testament to the dedication of our lineworkers and all NRLP staff who worktirelessly to power our community.”
In addition to the reliability award, NRLP received the APPA Smart Energy Provider designationand the Safety Award of Excellence for 2024.
To learn more about NRLP, visit nrlp.appstate.edu.
About App State’s New River Light and Power
For 110 years, Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) has providedreliable electric service to residents of Western North Carolina. A nonprofit utility operated byApp State’s Division of the Chief Operating Officer, NRLP currently serves approximately 9,000residential and commercial customers in and around Boone.NRLP holds the American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)and Smart Energy Provider designations, recognizing its commitment to safety, efficiency,renewable energy, and environmental stewardship. The utility is also dedicated to communityempowerment through education, contributing approximately $650,000 annually to App State’sgeneral scholarship fund. Since 1988, NRLP has awarded scholarships to Watauga Countyseniors attending App State, and as of 2025, offers a lineworker scholarship supporting localhigh school graduates enrolled in the Electrical Lineworker Institute at Caldwell CommunityCollege and Technical Institute’s Lenoir campus.
About the American Public Power Association
The American Public Power Association has offered the RP3 designation for 18 years now.APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 49 million people in2,000 towns and cities nationwide. APPA advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology,trends, training, and operations.