The American Public Power Association recognizes excellence in electric utility operations and leadership with the most sought-after awards and honors in public power. Winners are recognized at national events and conferences and showcased on our website, social media channels, and publications. Winning a national award raises your credibility with local press, policymakers, elected officials, and customers.
Learn about recent award winners.
Members are encouraged to apply for awards in the following categories
- Utility services: Apply Dec–Jan
- Individual leadership: Apply Dec–Jan
- Public power communications: Apply Jun–Aug
- Century award: Apply year-round
- Honor roll: Apply year-round
Members may also apply for Reliable Public Provider (RP3) recognition and for safety awards. DEED members may apply for research and innovation awards.
Utility Services
Recognizes outstanding business, operations, and service by public power utilities in two categories.
E.F. Scattergood System Achievement: Recognizes a community-owned utility that has enhanced the prestige of the American Public Power Association and of public power through outstanding service to customers.
Sue Kelly Community Service Award: Recognizes a community-owned utility for “good neighbor” activities that demonstrate the commitment of the utility and its employees to enhancing the quality of life of the community it serves.
Individual Leadership
Recognizes utility leadership and contributions to public policy and advocacy in eight categories.
Alex Radin Distinguished Service: Recognizes a utility official who has been involved with the American Public Association for at least 10 years and has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to public power.
James D. Donovan Individual Achievement: Recognizes individuals who have made significant and sustained contributions to the electric utility industry and to public power.
Alan Richardson Statesmanship: Recognizes leaders who have worked tirelessly, on behalf of the American Public Power Association, to forge consensus on national issues affecting public power.
Larry Hobart Seven Hats: Recognizes managers of utilities with fewer than 2,500 electric meters, who lead the way in seven areas — planning and design, administration, public relations, field supervision, accounting, human resources, and community involvement.
Harold Kramer-John Preston Personal Service: Recognizes member utility employees who have made significant contributions toward the American Public Power Association’s goals and enhanced its prestige.
Spence Vanderlinden Public Official: Recognizes elected or appointed members of utility boards or commissions or public power community mayors who have made contributions to the American Public Power Association’s goals and prestige.
Robert E. Roundtree Rising Star: Recognizes an up and coming leader from a public power utility with a $2,000 scholarship to attend American Public Power Association conferences and education programs.
Mark Crisson Leadership and Managerial Excellence: Recognizes managers at any level of a public power utility, joint action agency, or state or regional association who bring their organizations to new levels of excellence; lead by example; and inspire their employees and staff to improve processes, services, and operations.
Public Power Communications
Recognizes excellence in raising awareness of public power and telling the public power story in three categories. Nomination forms and eligibility criteria will be available when submissions open. Learn more.
Web and Social Media: Includes corporate, program, and campaign websites as well as regular activity and campaigns on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogs, podcasts, etc.
Video: Includes videos of 3 minutes or less, that are creative, relevant, and widely viewed and shared. Bonus points for in-house production!
Print and Digital: Includes newsletters, bill stuffers, annual reports, advertisements, program/product marketing materials, digital reports, digital marketing
Honor Roll
Recognizes employees of public power utilities that have made significant local contributions to public power. Any employee of a member utility with at least 10 years of public power service may be nominated. Apply now.
Century Award
Recognizes public power utilities that have provided electricity to their communities for 100 or more years. Nominees must have served their consumers and communities continuously for 100 years and provide proof — in the form of council minutes or newspaper articles from the time period, etc.) — that indicates the date electricity was first distributed. Apply now.
Mutual Aid Commendation
APPA’s Mutual Aid Commendation Program recognizes utilities that have answered the call for assistance and aided another utility in restoring power to its customers. Apply now.
Safety Awards of Excellence
Member utilities are invited to apply for APPA's safety awards by submitting annual injury and illness incidence rate report forms. Learn more and apply now.
Public Power Customer Satisfaction Awards
Recognizes municipal utilities for positive performance among several criteria and characteristics evaluated in the core Public Power Data Source (PPDS) survey instrument. To qualify for a Public Power Customer Satisfaction Award, utilities must subscribe to the PPDS. Learn more about the Public Power Customer Satisfaction Awards.