American Public Power Association

Activities

• APPA is the national advocate for public power in Washington, D.C., on legislative and regulatory issues, and in legal proceedings. APPA lobbies public power positions, and monitors and reports on federal events and activities. Its Legislative & Resolutions Committee gives all utility members an opportunity to develop consensus on issues, as do task forces, committees, and work groups. The annual Legislative Rally brings managers and policymakers to Washington, D.C., to tell the public power story.
• APPA provides programs and resources to help utilities adopt new technologies and improve customer service, reliability, safety, physical and cybersecurity, and disaster preparation efforts through programs such as the eReliability Tracker, the Public Power Safety Manual, and the Reliable Public Power Provider certification program.
• Public Power magazine and Public Power Daily newsletter are sources of information about public power and the industry. provides information for a variety of audiences. Specialized publications, reports, surveys, and Internet-based networking groups inform and educate in various utility disciplines.
• APPA offers many opportunities to learn from and network with colleagues, utility experts, and local and national policymakers. The annual National Conference is the largest public power meeting. Other annual meetings cover business and financial, engineering and operations, legal, community broadband, and customer and community services topics. APPA also conducts smaller professional-development courses and provides a variety of continuing education and consumer-oriented materials.
• The Demonstration of Energy-Efficient Developments program provides grants to APPA-member utilities and students from public power communities. Projects explore techniques and technologies that could be widely applicable to public power.
• Major awards are given at APPA’s National Conference to executives and policymakers who have advanced public power’s goals, as well as to utilities that have met the highest standards. Throughout the year, others are recognized for safety records, reliability, annual reports, lineworker skills, continuing education, and dedication to energy innovation.