BLP’S SAFETY AND RELIABILITY STANDARDS RECOGNIZED BY APPA

GRAND HAVEN, MICH., April 12, 2024 – The Grand Haven Board of Light and Power (BLP) received two national awards at the beginning of April from the American Public Power Association (APPA). The utility received one award for outstanding performance for safety and one for demonstration of exceeding standards for reliability. Both the Gold Standard for Safety award and the BLP’s Diamond RP₃ (Reliable Public Power) designation were officially announced at APPA’s Engineering and Operations Conference in New Orleans, LA.

“We are proud of the hard work and dedication of our entire team on behalf of our customers,” stated Rob Shelley, BLP interim general manager. “There are a lot of moving parts that contribute to the level of recognition our utility has received with these awards. It’s a testament to the level of commitment we put into safety and reliability all across the organization in service to our community.”

The APPA’s Safety Committee bases its Safety award on three years of submitted data, with categories tied to total hours worked by all employees. The BLP is the only Michigan public power utility in its category to achieve a Gold rating. The Reliability Diamond Level designation is based on industry-recognized best practices in reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. The reliability criteria include disaster management and emergency response, as well as cyber and physical security. System integrity and employee training and networking programs also factor into the award designation.

Chairman Mike Westbrook commented, “Our BLP continues to demonstrate a strong level of excellence in their service to our community. This national recognition of receiving awards for both safety and reliability illustrates the value of the BLP in providing one of our most life-essential necessities. Our community puts a high level of trust in the BLP, and these awards are well earned.”

The BLP serves over 15,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the City of Grand Haven, City of Ferrysburg, Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and Robinson Townships with affordable, sustainable, and as shown, award-winning reliable service.