Highlights

• NYPA Honored with National Awards for Outstanding Safety Practices
• NYPA Awarded Diamond Level Designation in APPA Safety Award of Excellence
• NYPA Also Receives Highest Honor as Reliable Public Power Provider

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has earned the highest recognition from the American Public Power Association (APPA) in two national award programs. The utility earned the Diamond Level APPA Safety Award of Excellence for 2024 for safe operating practices in the category for utilities with over 3.9 million worker-hours of annual worker exposure. The Power Authority was also awarded the APPA's Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) Diamond Level designation, which lasts for three years, and recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Diamond level is the highest obtainable level for both awards.

"The New York Power Authority's commitment to safety permeates every aspect of our operations," said NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. "These awards reflect the dedication of Power Authority employees throughout the organization who have prioritized a workplace safety culture of the highest standard. We are grateful for the recognition from APPA and will continue to strive higher, leveraging technology and innovation to further enhance workplace safety in service of our customers and all New Yorkers."

NYPA was among over 200 utilities from across the country eligible for the APPA's Safety Awards for 2024. The entrants were placed in accordance with their number of worker-hours and ranked based on the most incident-free records and overall state of their safety programs and culture during 2024. The incidence rate is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2024, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

These criteria, used to judge entries, assess both a utility's historical safety performance and proactive measures the utility takes to promote safe working practices. These measures play a vital role in strengthening safety programs and continuous safety improvement. Since 1994, NYPA has continually ranked among the top three utilities in its class for safety by the APPA.

The RP3 program is a national designation given currently to 251 of the nation's more than 2,000 public power utilities. The designation recognizes those utilities for providing communities with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service. The designation lasts for three years. Criteria for awardees are based on leading business practices and are intended to represent a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity.

"Harnessing electricity to keep our communities powered is vital work that can be dangerous, even deadly, if the proper attention isn't paid to tried-and-true safety practices," said Jon Beasley, Chair of APPA's Safety Committee and Vice-President of Electric Cities of GA. "This award honors utilities that hold fast to these practices and in doing so put the safety of their personnel and their customers above all else."

APPA has conducted the Safety Awards annually for more than sixty-six years and announced the awardees at the APPA's annual Engineering & Operations Technical Conference, in Sacramento. NYPA was represented by its Chief Innovation Officer Daniella Piper and Director of Operations Performance & Reporting Marzena Przybylowska who accepted the awards on behalf of the utility. Daniella Piper and NYPA's SVP of Transmission Saul Rojas each spoke about NYPA's work at the conference. The APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.

About NYPA

NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 17 generating facilities and more than 1,550 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.