FREEPORT ELECTRIC HIGHLIGHTS

FREEPORT ELECTRIC RECEIVES RP3 AWARD

Allston Livingston, Jr., Electrical Engineer Utilities - Freeport Electric, poses with Mike Hyland (left), APPA Vice President, Engineering Services, and Paul Allen (right), Vice President, Engineering at Nashville, Tenn., Electric Service and chair of APPA's RP3 Review Panel.

WASHINGTON , D.C. , April 16, 2007— Freeport Electric is one of 48 of the nation’s more than 2,000 public power utilities to earn Reliable Public Power Provider^TM (RP₃) recognition from the American Public Power Association for providing consumers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service.  John Twitty, general manager of City Utilities of Springfield, Mo., and chair of the APPA Board of Directors, presented the designees on April 16, during the association’s annual Engineering & Operations Technical Conference, held in Atlanta , Ga.

 “The RP₃ designation represents a concerted effort on the utility’s behalf to exemplify the highest standards of utility operations,” said Paul Allen, vice president, engineering at Nashville , Tenn. , Electric Service and chair of APPA’s RP₃ Review Panel, “The utility and the community should be very proud of this achievement.”

The RP₃ recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, training and system improvement.  Criteria within each category are based on sound business practices and represent a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity.

“We’re thrilled to be recognized as a national RP₃ designee,” said Hubert M. Bianco, Superintendent of Freeport Electric. “We look forward to continuing to find ways to improve our operations and service to the community.”

This is the second year that the RP3 award has been offered.  APPA is the national organization representing more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community- and state- owned electric utilities.  It is located in Washington , D.C.