Contact Tobias Sellier, Director of Media Relations and Communications at MediaRelations@PublicPower.org.
Washington D.C., March 31, 2026— One hundred eighteen of the nation’s more than 2,000 public power utilities earned the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3®) designation from the American Public Power Association (APPA) for providing reliable and safe electric service.
The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. This year, 118 utilities earned the RP3 designation, and more than 250 public power utilities nationwide hold it.
“Receiving an RP3 designation is a great honor and a testament to the work these utilities are doing to follow industry best practices,” said Jeremy Ash, Chair of APPA’s RP3 Review Panel and General Manager at Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, Kansas. "These designees have distinguished themselves as committed to pursuing excellence and perpetual improvement for the benefit of their communities.”
A full list of designees is available at www.PublicPower.org.
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The American Public Power Association has offered the RP3 designation for 21 years now. APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 54 million people in nearly 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. APPA advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations.