Last Updated on April 15, 2025 1:27 pm
BOONE, N.C. — On two days in April, Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) joins others across the state and nation to celebrate lineworkers and the important work they do to power our lives.
North Carolina Lineworker Appreciation Day is April 14, and National Lineworker Appreciation Day is April 18.
“Every day and in particular on the special days of recognition, we are grateful for the skilled professionals who keep our communities connected,” said Matt Makdad, NRLP general manager. “Our team goes above and beyond to deliver safe and reliable power. In difficult situations, our crews are there for our community and our neighbors outside NRLP territory through mutual aid assistance.”
NRLP lineworkers play a key role in maintaining the community’s electrical infrastructure and the utility’s impressive reliability rating of 99.98%. Sustained outages — other than significant storm events like Helene — are infrequent for NRLP, but lineworkers are quick to respond and restore power when outages occur. An enhanced outage management system to improve the utility’s customer interaction during outages is also planned for release later this year.
The dedication of the extraordinary people behind the power is most evident in times of crisis for their communities.
“When Hurricane Helene struck, our lineworkers responded quickly despite the danger. Their calm under pressure and willingness to serve the community is exactly what being a lineworker is about,” said Alan Byrd, NRLP operations superintendent. “I am proud of the work accomplished by our lineworkers.”
This spring, the local utility was recognized for its 2024 efforts in safety and reliability. NRLP again received the Certificate of Excellence in Reliability and Safety Award of Excellence from the American Public Power Association. The Town of Boone recognized the utility’s efforts on Dec 11, 2024, for its Helene response and on March 26, 2025, in recognition of Lineworker Appreciation Days.
Service to the community extends beyond electrical infrastructure for the 110-year-old utility. To encourage future generations, NRLP has launched a Lineworker Scholarship program. Watauga High School and Watauga Innovation Academy graduating seniors can apply for a full scholarship to complete the Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Electrical Lineworker Institute in Hudson, NC.
NRLP lineworkers are part of a large network of public power lineworkers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 120,000 lineworkers keep the U.S. electric grid operating safely and reliably. Many serve the one in seven Americans who get their energy from a public power provider, including the community served by NRLP.
For more information about NRLP, visit nrlp.appstate.edu.
About App State’s New River Light and Power
For more than 100 years, Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) — a nonprofit electric utility operated by the Division of Finance and Operations — has provided power to Western North Carolina residents. Today, NRLP serves nearly 9,000 residential and commercial customers who reside in and near the town of Boone. In January 2022, the utility began purchasing its electricity from Carolina Power Partners — a partnership that opens greater renewable energy opportunities.
In partnership with App State’s Office of Sustainability, Facilities Operations and Renewable Energy Initiative, NRLP has assisted with various energy efficiency projects across campus, including installing solar panels and providing funding for the Broyhill Wind Turbine located on Bodenheimer Drive. The utility holds the American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation for providing reliable and safe electric service, and approximately $650,000 of its budget is reserved annually for contributions to App State’s general scholarship fund.
