RMLD Receives 2022 Certificate of Excellence in Reliability for Seventh Consecutive Year

Reading, MA, April 19, 2023 – The Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) has received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2022. The recognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA), a trade group that represents more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities. This is RMLD’s seventh consecutive year receiving this prestigious award.

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. RMLD is in the top 25 percent of utilities in the nation that substantially exceed the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) when compared with national reliability data collected by EIA.

“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. And these communities should be proud of their local power providers and appreciate the hard work that goes into earning this recognition.”

RMLD has a rigorous 10-point proactive maintenance program that contributes to its award-winning reliability. Some of RMLD’s ongoing system maintenance measures include a comprehensive tree maintenance program, a pole inspection and replacement program, an aged transformer replacement program, regular underground distribution facility upgrades, and ongoing substation equipment testing and maintenance. RMLD is accelerating upgrades to its electric grid in preparation for increased electrification.  In 2022, RMLD replaced over 60 aged or overloaded transformers for improved reliability, replaced more than 300 routine meters, and trimmed over 2,100 tree spans to manage growth around power lines.

“RMLD is proud to receive this recognition for the seventh consecutive year, which is a reflection of RMLD’s versatility and continuous commitment to maintaining the highest standard of reliability possible for its customers in the towns of Reading, North Reading, Wilmington and Lynnfield Center,” said Greg Phipps, General Manager at RMLD. “Infrequent power outages and fast restoration times have become a hallmark of RMLD, and RMLD works tirelessly on proactive maintenance measures and infrastructure upgrades to ensure that it achieves best in class reliability.”

The full list of recipients can be found here. For more information on RMLD and its commitment to reliability, visit www.rmld.com.