NPU recognized as ‘Smart Energy Provider’ by American Public Power Association

NORWICH – Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) was one of 66 public energy providers in the United States recognized as a ‘Smart Energy Provider’ by the American Public Power Association (APPA) for demonstrating commitment to and proficiency in energy efficiency, distributed energy resources, and environmental initiatives.

“We are very proud to be recognized by the APPA with this important award. It reflects a great deal of time, effort, and commitment by a number of employees month after month, year after year,” said Chris LaRose, General Manager of NPU. “We are committed to being good stewards of the environment for our community – today and in the years to come.”

The Smart Energy Provider designation provides national recognition of utility efforts to incorporate efficiencies and sustainability while providing affordable electric service. The program also helps utilities benchmark and evaluate their work on these topics against a set of industry ‘best practices.’

The Smart Energy Provider recognition, which lasts for three years, evaluates four disciplines:

• Smart Energy Information, which looks at how utilities have structured its overall program, including establishing clear goals and objectives.
• Energy Efficiency and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), which looks at methods of energy efficiency and DERs, as well as how these programs are marketed.
• Environmental and Sustainability Programs and Initiatives, which evaluates how a utility works to reduce emissions and other adverse impacts to the environment; and
• Communications, Education, and Customer Experience, which looks at the utility’s policies, programs, and procedures and how they are shared with customers.

The American Public Power Association is the voice of the not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and city nationwide. It represents public power before the federal government to protect the interests of the more than 49 million people that public power utilities serve, and the 96,000 people they employ. APPA advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations.