| The American Public Power Association uses surveys to gather information about public power utilities to identify trends in the industry, understand emerging issues, and to help our members benchmark various aspects of their operations. This listing of the surveys we administer is meant to encourage participation and offer guidance on how to access the reports and materials developed from the survey feedback. |
Open Surveys
Individualized Survey Reports
- Safety Awards of Excellence
This annual review asks public power utilities for three consecutive prior years of injury and illness incidence rates. The anonymized data contributes to an annual safety benchmarking report.
When it is conducted: January each year.
Who can participate: Open to all public power utility members.
When the next survey is due: January 31, 2023
Download the latest report (from 2020, publicly available).
Contact: Shannon Wilson, [email protected]
- eReliability Tracker Data Acknowledgement and Certificate Eligibility
Subscribers to the eReliability Tracker receive custom data analysis of how their reliability metrics compare to other subscribers across the country and compared to subscribers within the same region or that share other similar factors.
When it is conducted: Annually between December and January.
When the next survey is due: January 2023.
Who can participate: Custom reports only available to subscribers of the eReliability Tracker service.
Contact: Ji Yoon Lee, [email protected]
Completed Surveys and Reports
- Performance Indicators
An annual benchmark of key financial and operating data for public power utilities, compared by utility customer count, region, and generation.
When it is conducted: Annually between September and November.
When next survey is due: November 2023
Who can participate: All public power utilities that are at least 50% retail and with annual retail sales of 150,000 MWh or more.
Get the latest report (Anyone can purchase the report, respondents receive the report for free).
Contact: Lindsey Buttel, [email protected]
- Utility Salary
An annual benchmark of management and non-management salaries and median hourly pay for public power utilities. The report details differences in median salaries based on revenue, customers served, and region.
When it is conducted: Annually between May and July.
When next survey is due: July 2023
Who can participate: All public power utilities that are at least 50% retail.
Get the latest report (Available for purchase for utility members and free for all respondents)
Contact: Lindsey Buttel, [email protected]
- Joint Action Agency Salary
An annual benchmark of management and non-management salaries based on revenue, customer count, and generation.
When it is conducted: Annually between May/June and July/August.
When next survey is due: July 2023
Who can participate: All joint action agencies that have full-time staff dedicated to the organization.
Get the latest report: (Available to all joint action agencies upon request).
Contact: Lindsey Buttel, [email protected]
- Tax Payments and Contributions
Details the payments in lieu of taxes and other payments and in-kind contributions public power utilities make to local and state governments. Utilities can compare their contributions by revenue and region, and to taxes paid by investor-owned utilities.
When it is conducted: Every two years between January and March.
When next survey is due: March 2024
Who can participate: All public power utilities that are at least 50% retail.
Contact: Lindsey Buttel, [email protected]
- Governance
A review of governing bodies that oversee public power systems, including type, term limits, and compensation of governing body members, and the authorities granted to utility governing bodies.
When it is conducted: Every five years
When next survey is due: February 2025
Who can participate: All public power utilities that are at least 50% retail.
Contact: Lindsey Buttel, [email protected]
- Distribution System Reliability and Operations
Detailed questions on a variety of electric distribution system design and operations topics, including outage and reliability tracking, technology used, power quality concerns, construction policies, and workforce practices.
When it is conducted: Every three years
When next survey is due: Spring 2024
Who can participate: Public power utility members of APPA.
Contact: Ji Yoon Lee, [email protected]