Programs & Initiatives Make NWCPUD Exceptional
Part 2 of Our Excellence in Public Power Series
In a previous article, we introduced Northern Wasco County PUD’s prestigious RP3 Platinum and Smart Energy Provider designations—recognitions that place us among the elite of America’s public power utilities.
Let’s go behind the scenes to explore the concrete actions and strategic decisions that demonstrate NWCPUD’s commitment to operational excellence, reliability, safety, and smart energy leadership.
RP3 Platinum: The Foundation of Operational Excellence
Earning the RP3 Platinum designation requires NWCPUD to demonstrate exceptional performance across 4 critical disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement.
Reliability: Data-Driven Decision Making eReliability Tracker Implementation
Since 2015, NWCPUD has used the American Public Power Association’s eReliability Tracker system to collect, organize, and analyze outage data. This data analysis has enabled us to identify patterns and target investments strategically.
“By putting every detail into the tracker, we can calculate systemwide or 1 feeder’s reliability over the previous 5 years,” Chief Operating Officer Jeff Teel says. “Is it getting better? Is it getting worse despite the investments we’re putting into it?
“We want to give people the highest reliability at the lowest cost possible, so we have to target investments in the areas that need them. Our tracking and analysis systems help us understand where we need to address issues.”
Infrastructure Improvements Based on Data
Our data-driven approach has yielded concrete improvements:
- Copper Wire Replacement Program: Analysis revealed that solid copper wire in our system, which was installed many years ago, gets brittle and tends to break in winter storms. Using this information, we prioritized the replacement of copper wire in power lines, resulting in a marked decrease in outages over the past 2 winters due to broken copper wire.
- Wildlife Protection Measures: Data showed troubles with large migrating birds. This correlation led us to change construction standards on power poles. Crossarms on top of the poles are longer, so the wires are spread farther apart, and the clearance between the wires is greater. We’ve seen reliability improvements as a result of those actions.
Safety: Creating a Culture of Excellence, Comprehensive Safety Programs
NWCPUD’s safety record reflects our commitment to protecting employees and the community. Our safety initiatives include:
- Regular safety training and certification programs for all field personnel
- Implementation of industry-standard safety manuals and procedures
- Investment in personal protective equipment and safety technology
Workforce Development: Investing in Our People Professional Growth Opportunities
NWCPUD supports employee advancement through educational reimbursement programs, professional certifications, and participation in regional and national utility organizations. Our employees regularly attend conferences and training programs through the American Public Power Association, Northwest Public Power Association, and Western Energy Institute.
- Succession Planning: We maintain robust succession planning to ensure continuity of operations and institutional knowledge transfer. This includes mentorship programs, cross-training initiatives, and strategic recruitment efforts.
- System Improvement: Planning for the Future Capital Investment Strategy: We use reliability data to help us prioritize where we invest capital funds, running reports on every feeder and using our data to monitor increases or decreases in loads throughout the system to ensure assets are properly sized.
- Long-Term System Planning: NWCPUD conducts comprehensive 10-year planning studies that examine where we’ll grow electrically and help identify possible weak points in our electric system. This proactive approach allows us to identify potential issues early and implement remedies before problems arise, ensuring continued reliable service as our community grows.
- Technology Integration: NWCPUD embraces technological advancement through real-time system monitoring, smart metering deployment, and advanced outage management systems.
SEP Designation: Leading Smart Energy Innovation
As the only utility in Oregon to achieve SEP designation, NWCPUD demonstrates exceptional commitment to smart energy practices across 4 key areas:
- Smart Energy Program Structure Strategic Planning Integration: NWCPUD maintains a comprehensive planning process with clear objectives and measurable outcomes. Our programs undergo regular evaluation and benchmarking against industry best practices to ensure we’re meeting our community’s needs effectively.
- Research and Development Participation: NWCPUD participates in regional and national research initiatives, staying current with emerging technologies and best practices in energy efficiency, distributed energy resources, and other initiatives.
- Energy Efficiency and Distributed Energy Resources Energy-Efficiency Programs: NWCPUD offers comprehensive energy-efficiency programs through our Energy Efficiency Upgrade Programs and Income Qualified Energy Efficiency Upgrade Programs, which were recently revamped to streamline them for easier customer use. These programs demonstrate our commitment to serving all customer-owners equitably while helping reduce energy consumption and costs throughout our community.
- Net Metering Program: NWCPUD supports customer-owned renewable energy systems through its net metering program, which allows customers with qualifying electric generation systems to receive credit for excess electricity they produce and feed back into the electric grid. We accept net metering applications for solar power, wind power, fuel cell technology, hydroelectric power, and other qualifying technologies, with special tariff rates designed to fairly compensate customers for the clean energy they contribute while maintaining system reliability and cost-effectiveness for all.
- Environmental and Sustainability Programs Renewable Energy Leadership: We value clean energy sources and work to reduce our environmental footprint through:
- Strategic power supply contracts
- Support for customer-owned renewable energy systems
- Energy-efficiency programs that reduce overall demand
- Environmental Impact Tracking: The PUD monitors and evaluates the environmental benefits of our energy-efficiency programs, tracking metrics such as energy savings, emissions reductions, and resource conservation.
- Customer Communication and Education Comprehensive Customer Engagement: Our customer communication strategy includes:
- Educational materials about energy efficiency and conservation
- Regular communication through Ruralite, bills, newsletters, and social media
- Community Outreach and Education Initiatives SmartHub Technology Platform: We implemented advanced customer portal technology that enables customers to:
- Monitor their energy-use patterns
- Access energy-efficiency resources
- Receive outage notifications and updates
The NWCPUD Difference
These programs and initiatives represent more than operational improvements. They reflect our fundamental commitment to our community. As a consumer-owned utility, every investment we make, every program we implement, and every improvement we achieve directly benefits our customer-owners.
Our RP3 Platinum and SEP designations validate what our community has long known: Northern Wasco County PUD delivers exceptional value through reliable service, innovative programs, and unwavering commitment to excellence. These recognitions belong not just to our organization, but to every customer-owner who supports our mission and every employee who works tirelessly to keep the lights on and the community thriving.
The future of public power is bright, and NWCPUD is leading the way.