This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
New designation took effect Dec. 1
Longmont Power & Communications has been named a Smart Energy Provider, one of just 67 utilities nationwide to receive the honor, and one of only two in Colorado.
This is the first year the American Public Power Association has awarded the SEP designation, recognizing utilities who are leaders in energy efficiency, sustainability and environmental initiatives, smart energy program structure, and customer experience. The designation lasts for two years, beginning Dec 1.
“These utilities are going beyond ‘keeping the lights on’ and their communities should be proud,” said Chris Van Dokkumburg, the chair of APPA’s Energy Services Committee, in announcing the designees, which included both LPC and Fort Collins Light & Power.
“Longmont has long demonstrated that a community can make smart, sustainable and efficient use of electricity while still enjoying solid reliability and some of the lowest electric rates in Colorado,” said Dave Hornbacher, LPC’s executive director of electric services. “Smart energy is not just the work of a utility, but of a community, and we greatly appreciate the APPA’s recognition of our city’s efforts.”
Through the Efficiency Works energy efficiency program, LPC customers saved nearly 8.5 million kilowatt hours in 2018, enough to power almost 12,400 homes for a month. The utility is also a partner in Colorado’s Affordable Residential Energy program (CARE) which offers free home energy efficiency assessments and upgrades to lower-income residents.
LPC has also been recognized as a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) by the APPA since 2006 – the first year the honor was presented – and currently holds a Diamond RP3 rating, the highest that the APPA can give.
