Ninety public power utilities received APPA's Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation March 25 at the Engineering and Operations Technical Conference in Kissimmee, Fla. The RP3 designation recognizes utilities that provide customers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service. Among those were KPP member cities Winfield and Chanute.  Winfield also earned a gold designation in 2011.

"RP3 utilities are shining examples of reliable and forward-thinking public power utilities," said Brent McKinney, manager, electric transmission and distribution at City Utilities of Springfield, Mo., and chair of APPA’s RP3 Review Panel, "These 90 designees should be extremely proud of this accomplishment and what it means for their communities."

The RP3 designation requires demonstration of proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, work force development 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.

The 90 utilities who earned the RP3 award for the first time this year join 94 utilities who earned the designation in 2012. The designation lasts for two years. Starting with the next round of applicants, the RP3 designation will last for three years. A list of the latest winners is posted on the APPA website.

At the March 7 meeting of the KPP Operating Committee in Hillsboro Mark Chesney, General Manager and CEO of the Kansas Power Pool, asked the members to review and provide comments on a KPP Comprehensive Plan.  The Comprehensive Plan, an indirect product of the strategic planning effort undertaken in April 2012 by the KPP Board of Directors, is a forward-thinking approach to restructuring the governance process of the KPP to facilitate decision-making within the organization by involving more members in strategic groups identified by the Board as critical to KPP's future.  Members may find the draft Comprehensive Plan on the KPP website under the Policy Documents menu in the members-only part of the website.

May 2, 2013 - The KPP Power Supply group met to consider the need for a power supply screening study as proposed by KPP staff.  Even though the KPP may not need additional energy and capacity until 2020, the group determined that planning and acquisition of new energy sources takes significant time and that it is not too soon to begin the process with the proposed study.  KPP staff will proceed with consultant selection later this summer.

May 16, 2013 - The KPP Board of Directors Heard a report of its 2012 audit as presented by Chad Moore, BKD Audit Senior Manager.  Mr. Moore noted that the auditors' finding of no reportable matters represents a "clean audit" for KPP.  KPP Office Manager Vickie Matney is once again to be congratulated for her year around work that resulted in this exceptional audit report.  Director of Member Services Carl Myers presented a proposed schedule for eleven regional meetings to be held through the summer.  Invitees will be elected officials and staff members from KPP member cities.  Topics will include an orientation for newly elected and appointed officials, current KPP activities, and the value of KPP to its member communities.  The Board awarded $1,000 grants to three member cities: Centralia, Clay Center, and Erie.  C

The KPP Board of Directors voted to appoint James Ging, Director of Water & Electric Utilities for the City of Winfield, to fill the vacated Board position of Bob Porter upon Porter's retirement from the City of Winfield at the end of December 2012.  Ging joins KPP's nine-member Board of Directors until his term expires in 2014. 

The KPP Operating Committee will meet at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2013 in Wichita.

The KPP Board of Directors will meet at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2013 in Wichita.

At its May 16 meeting, the KPP Board of Directors awarded $1,000 grants to three member cities: Centralia, Clay Center, and Erie.  Centralia was awarded for a project to develop, create, and maintain a city website intended to highlight Centralia's business community.  Clay Center was awarded for a business marketing, retention and recruitment brochure resulting from a community economic development strategic planning effort.  Erie's grant award is to help complete upgraded electrical service for a laudromat service in the community where this service does not exist.

Grant awards are made in the form of a reimbursent to the member city after the project is completed.