Smooth Operators Make International Waves
GUC’s Smooth Operators made us look good once again at the Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition & Conference (WEFTC), which is the largest international water and wastewater conference of its kind held in North America.
During the first week in October, our Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Smooth Operators represented GUC and NC One Water (our state member association) at the WEFTEC Operations Challenge. To showcase how wastewater treatment operators and technicians overcome challenges and emergencies, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) developed what is considered the industry’s most rigorous professional development program through the Challenge. This year, a total of 56 teams from around the world competed in the 37th WEFTEC Operations Challenge in New Orleans, LA.
GUC’s Smooth Operators includes Chris Hill, Bryon Orr, Kyle Meeks, Steve Hedgepeth and Adam Garris. They competed against others in five different events: Collections Systems, Laboratory, Process Control, Pump Maintenance, and Safety. Each event is designed to test the diverse skills required for the operations/maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities, collection systems, and laboratories.
Congrats to our team for coming in 1st place for the top Division 1 Collections Systems event. This year, they competed against 11 teams to earn the number one spot! This is the second year they have placed 1st in Collections for Division 1.
“We have a unique group of guys on our team, and I’m really proud of them,” said Team Captain Bryon Orr. “Three years ago, when they announced us as the winners of Division III, they said we were the team to watch out for. The next year, we were announced as the team that has climbed the fastest to Division I. It’s been quite the experience.”
GUC Recognized as a Smart Energy Provider
Greenville Utilities earned the Smart Energy Provider (SEP) designation from the American Public Power Association for demonstrating a commitment to and proficiency in energy efficiency, distributed generation, and environmental initiatives that support the goal of providing safe, reliable, low-cost, and sustainable electric service. The award was presented during APPA’s annual Customer Connections Conference.
The SEP designation, which lasts for three years (December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2027), recognizes public power utilities for demonstrating leading practices in four key disciplines: smart energy program structure; energy efficiency and distributed energy resources programs; environmental and sustainability initiatives; and customer experience. GUC joins roughly 100 public power utilities (out of more than 2,000 nationwide) that holds the SEP designation. This is the third time GUC has earned this distinction.
“SEP-designated utilities have demonstrated their leadership in smart energy programs and services,” said Erin Miller, Vice President of Programs and Sustainability at American Municipal Power, Inc., and Chair of the SEP Review Panel. “This designation celebrates utilities that are committed to serving their customers while taking the extra step to plan for the future. Communities served by utilities that have earned the SEP designation should be proud of their utility’s accomplishments.”
“We are honored to be recognized as a utility at the cutting edge of smart energy best practices,” said John Worrell, Director of Electric Systems. “This SEP designation represents our dedication to offering programs that keep our power affordable, support energy efficiency in our community, and reduce our environmental impact.”
The American Public Power Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 54 million people in 49 states and five territories. APPA advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations.
ElectriCities Awards of Excellence
For the 19th year in a row, GUC has earned Public Power Awards of Excellence from ElectriCities. Roy Jones, CEO of ElectriCities, presented the awards at the Board of Commissioners’ September 19 meeting. The categories mirror the ElectriCities strategic priorities and include:
- People - Recognizing cities and towns that leverage their people as their greatest asset
- Provide Superior Power - Highlighting communities that deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric power
- Strengthen Public Power - Celebrating communities that build public and political support for public power
“Greenville Utilities and all 17 of this year’s Public Power Awards of Excellence recipients are shining examples of the value of public power,” said Jones. “These outstanding communities prioritize local needs and put their customers first as they develop innovative solutions to provide safe, reliable power with superior service. We’re honored to celebrate GUC, and we’re grateful for all they do to provide value to their customers and the Greenville region.” Find out more.
APGA System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR)
The American Public Gas Association (APGA) has presented Greenville Utilities Commission with the prestigious APGA System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) for excellence in operating its natural gas utility.
SOAR recognizes a utility’s demonstrated commitment to excellence in four areas required to safely deliver natural gas to its customers: system integrity, system improvement, employee safety, and workforce development. Greenville Utilities scored 156 out of a possible 158 points for those areas and was selected for SOAR Gold Level by its peers on the APGA Operations and Safety Committee. More details.
Safety Record Recognized
Greenville Utilities’ safety record was recognized twice recently.
APPA
We received the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) safety award for 2023. This honor recognizes utilities' incident rates and the overall state of their safety programs and culture. APPA uses electric department work hours and number of employees to determine award winners.
GUC is one out of 147 public power utilities to have earned the Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices for 2023.
ElectriCities
Our safety record was also recognized by ElectriCities with their Municipal Electric Safety Award. We were one of 52 ElectriCities member utilities that had no lost workday cases due to accidents or injuries in 2023.
Reporting on-the-job accidents and injuries is required by OSHA, but it’s not just about record-keeping and awards. The reports provide an opportunity to revisit safe work practices.
GUC Linemen Bring Home State Wins
Electric Department Linemen with awards.
A team of Electric Department Lineworkers fared well at the 25th Annual North Carolina Association of Municipal Electric Systems (NCAMES) Lineman’s Rodeo. On May 9th, public power teams from around the state convened in Concord, NC, to compete in events that tested their knowledge and ability to perform tasks safely and quickly.
Lineman rodeos involve events for Apprentices (less than four years of experience) and Journeymen (more than four years). GUC's Journeyman team included Oscar Meeks, CJ Forrest, Cole Hartley, and Calvin Whitehead. Competing in the Apprentice division were Carter Gaskins, Holden Stotesbury, Jordan Bradshaw, Jordan Lang, Isaiah Edwards, and Hunter Forrest. Team Coaches were James Forrest and Gavin Smith.
Our team performed well again this year!
In the Apprentice competitions, Carter placed 1st Overall, 1st in Hurtman Rescue, 1st in Load Transfer, and 3rd in Egg Climb. Hunter placed 3rd in Load Transfer, and Jordan placed 5th Overall.
In the Journeyman Division, Oscar placed 5th Overall and 1st in Lightning Arrestor Changeout.
GUC Earns RP3 Designation
Greenville Utilities earned the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)® Platinum Level designation from the American Public Power Association for providing reliable and safe electric service.
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. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. GUC is one of 271 public power utilities nationwide that hold the RP3 designation. Greenville Utilities has been recognized with the RP3 designation continuously since 2007.
“We couldn’t be prouder to be honored with this designation,” said John Worrell, Director of Electric Systems. “This is a prestigious recognition of a lot of work from a lot of people who really care about powering our community. We are committed to continuing to look for ways to improve our operations and service to our customers.”
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.
GUC Receives NCDOL Safety Awards
GUC employees with NCDOL awards
At this year’s Greenville-Pitt Chamber of Commerce annual Safety Luncheon on April 25th, the NC Department of Labor (NCDOL) recognized GUC's efforts to work safely. For one of our departments, this was the 17th consecutive year earning awards at the banquet. In all, we were honored with 13 safety awards.
Gold Level Awards were presented to companies with days away from work, job transfers, or restricted time rates at least 50% below the industry average. Awards at this level went to Wastewater Treatment Plant (17th year), Customer Relations (11th year), Water Treatment Plant (7th year), Express Office (4th year), Administration (3rd year), Administration Building (3rd year), Information Technology (3rd year), Red Banks (1st year), and Human Resources (1st year).
Silver Level Awards were presented to companies with days away from work rates at least 50% below the industry average. Awards at this level went to Finance (1st year), Meter (1st year), Electric (1st year), and GUC as a whole (1st year).
NCDOL's Safety Awards Program was established in 1946 and recognizes private and public firms throughout the state that maintain good safety records.
Customer Excellence Award
IT Department staff Andy Anderson, Elizabeth Sharp, and Becky Pope.
Greenville Utilities' Customer Cloud Service (CCS) Project Team won the Customer Excellence Award from industry peers in March during the Oracle Utility Users Group Conference. The Oracle Utilities Users Group (OUUG) is a global “for-users, by-users” support organization devoted to bringing together customers who use the Oracle Utilities systems.
The interdisciplinary CCS Project Team received this award based on several factors, but most notably is that GUC is among the first multi-service utilities to implement all four utilities on CCS. This was also the first time a new work and asset management system (Cityworks) was integrated with CCS, moving both systems to cloud based in the same timeframe.
The Project Team Co-Leaders were Becky Pope and Elizabeth Sharp with IT. The Project Team included Natalie O’Neal and Wendy Rogers (Electric), Paula Vinciguerra and Kenny Daniels (Meter), Lisa Johnson (Gas), Nikia Best-Manuel (Water), Denine Hardee (Billing), Juliet Telfair (Customer Relations/Call Center), Shannon Oakley (Customer Relations/Credit), Brian Weigand and Kim Coggins (Finance), and Courtney Basile, Robin Nichols, Michelle Edmundson, John Bartolotti, and Max Wu (IT).
"Smooth Operators" Make Waves in South Carolina
GUC's Smooth Operators team -- Adam Garris, Chris Hill, Bryon Orr, and Kyle Meeks
Greenville Utilities' Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) “Smooth Operators” swept the competition at the South Carolina Environmental Conference Operations Challenge in early March!
The conference was co-hosted by the Water Environment Association (WEF) of South Carolina and the South Carolina American Water Works Association. To showcase how wastewater treatment operators and technicians overcome challenges and emergencies, WEF has developed what is considered the industry’s most rigorous professional development program – the Operations Challenge. In order to compete at the national level, teams must perform well at the state-level competitions. The South Carolina conference hosts invited out-of-state teams to compete with them at their state conference (called an Invitational).
GUC’s 2024 “Smooth Operators” team includes Adam Garris, Chris Hill, Bryon Orr, and Kyle Meeks. They competed against 10 other wastewater teams from across the country and swept the competition! They came in 1st for Invitational (out-of-state teams), 2nd Overall, 1st in Safety, 2nd in Collections, 2nd in Maintenance, 3rd in Process Control, and 6th in Lab.
“This was a big win for us to go down and compete in one of the largest events held for the Operations Challenge across the nation and finish 1st in Invitational and 2nd Overall,” said Team Captain Bryon Orr. “It just goes to show that hard work pays off. We're thankful for our coworkers who help cover some of our daily duties while we’re out, so this team is truly bigger than just us four. It feels good to put GUC on the map for the Operations Challenge!”