“The Diamond RP3 designation is an incredible testimony to the high bar we have set for ourselves and to the culture of excellence that permeates every aspect of the work our team is doing every day.” - Rick Dunn, General Manager

The Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) program is a national designation given by the American Public Power Association.

Currently, 271 of the nation's more than 2,000 public power utilities hold an RP3 designation recognizing them for providing communities with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service.

The designation recognizes community-owned, not-for-profit public power utilities that exhibit operational excellence and demonstrate leading practices in:

• Reliability
  • The reliability of an electric system goes beyond keeping the lights on. It also involves important steps like collecting and analyzing reliability data, having a mutual aid agreement, and committing to cyber and physical security.

• Safety
  • Industry leaders aim to create a culture of safety at each utility, ensuring safe standards for employees and customers. Commitment to safety must begin with top management, adherence to a thorough safety manual, and should be included in all aspects of operations from generation to line work.

• Workforce Development
  • Dedicated employees are the key to a great utility. Offering professional development and networking opportunities helps show employees that they are valued, while succession planning and recruitment efforts ensure continuity in a changing workforce.

• System Improvement
  • Utilities maintain the integrity of their systems and promote long-term planning by keeping an eye on the future through research and development and a commitment to system betterment programs, which can help utilities provide reliable services in the future.

This is not a “rubberstamp program,” meaning:

• Designees complete a demanding application which is completed over the course of several months.
• Applicants must meet a minimum score to achieve the designation status.
• Applications are reviewed by an 18-member panel comprising national utility experts in reliability, safety, transmission and distribution, workforce development, and system planning.
• The application is evaluated carefully every three years to ensure that questions and criteria are relevant, thorough, and keep up with industry trends and best practices.

Through the RP3 program, utilities have a chance to learn, grow, and improve, as well as serve as an example for others striving for excellence.

The RP3 designation lasts for three years, starting on May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2027, and the designations are officially conferred at the American Public Power Association’s Engineering and Operations Technical Conference. This is the District’s fourth time receiving this recognition and each time we have earned a score of 100%. Many staff members have contributed to the application process over the years.

Congratulations to Team Benton PUD for providing our communities with the highest degree of reliable and safe electrical service!