Moorhead Public Service (MPS), located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and Brookings Municipal Utilities (BMU), located in Brookings, South Dakota, are among the 114 public power utilities nationwide to be recognized this year for providing reliable and safe electric service under the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) program. Both MPS and BMU earned the Platinum Level designation, and both are members of Missouri River Energy Services (MRES).
The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. Marshall Municipal Utilities in Marshall, Minnesota, and Willmar Municipal Utilities in Willmar, Minnesota, earned the Diamond Level designation in 2020. ALP Utilities in Alexandria Minnesota, Detroit Lakes Public Utilities in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and Hutchinson Utilities Commission in Hutchinson, Minnesota, all earned the Platinum Level designation within the last two years. These five public power utilities are also members of MRES.
In total, 275 of the more than 2,000 public power utilities nationwide hold the RP3 designation. APPA has offered the RP3 designation for 15 years.
“Our municipally-owned utilities take pride in powering their communities because their customers are not only owners, but also their neighbors,” MRES President and CEO Tom Heller said. “As community-owned, not-for-profit utilities, our members’ focus is squarely on the customers. The prestigious RP3 designation indicates the utility’s dedication to operating an efficient, safe and reliable distribution system that meets high industry standards.”
MRES is an organization of 61 member municipalities in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Each member owns and operates a municipal electric utility. MRES provides its members with energy and a wide range of energy-related services.