Last Updated on May 13, 2025 3:15 pm
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) has
earned national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2024. The
recognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA), a trade group
representing over 2,000 not-for-profit electric utilities.
APPA helps electric utilities track power outage and restoration data through its
subscription-based eReliability Tracker Service. Once per year, APPA’s Reliability Team
compares this data to national statistics tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration
(EIA) for all types of electric utilities.
“It’s encouraging to see year after year that public power’s track record for providing highly
reliable service is backed up by data,” said APPA Director of Research and Development Paul
Zummo. “These utilities are the best of the best when it comes to keeping the lights on. Their
communities should be proud of their local power providers and appreciate the hard work that
goes into earning this recognition.”
Nationwide, the average public power customer loses power for less than half the amount of time
that customers of other types of electrical utilities do. Most customers are served by one of three
types of electrical utilities — public power, cooperative or investor-owned utilities.
NRLP has earned this recognition for the fifth consecutive year and the seventh time overall.
Based on EIA data from 2019–2023, the utility ranks in the top 25% of utilities for System
Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) performance. This means NRLP customers benefit
from 99.98% reliability year-round. Major events, such as Hurricane Helene, are excluded from
the overall reliability index because they do not reflect a utility's underlying ability to operate
and maintain the electrical infrastructure.
“We are proud to once again receive this recognition,” said Matthew Makdad, NRLP general
manager. “It is a testament to the dedication of our lineworkers and all NRLP staff who work
tirelessly to power our community.”
In addition to the reliability award, NRLP received the APPA Smart Energy Provider designation
and the Safety Award of Excellence for 2024.
To learn more about NRLP, visit nrlp.appstate.edu.
About App State’s New River Light and Power
For 110 years, Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) has provided
reliable electric service to residents of Western North Carolina. A nonprofit utility operated by
App State’s Division of the Chief Operating Officer, NRLP currently serves approximately 9,000
residential and commercial customers in and around Boone.
NRLP holds the American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)
and Smart Energy Provider designations, recognizing its commitment to safety, efficiency,
renewable energy, and environmental stewardship. The utility is also dedicated to community
empowerment through education, contributing approximately $650,000 annually to App State’s
general scholarship fund. Since 1988, NRLP has awarded scholarships to Watauga County
seniors attending App State, and as of 2025, offers a lineworker scholarship supporting local
high school graduates enrolled in the Electrical Lineworker Institute at Caldwell Community
College and Technical Institute’s Lenoir campus.
About the American Public Power Association
The American Public Power Association has offered the RP3 designation for 18 years now.
APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 49 million people in
2,000 towns and cities nationwide. APPA advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology,
trends, training, and operations.
