Pasadena Utility Earns Triple Crown of Industry Awards

Pasadena Water and Power has recently added three prestigious national accolades to its trophy case, further cementing its position as a leader in the public utility sector. The agency received the Gold designation for the Safety Awards of Excellence, an Excellence in Public Power Communications Award, and a Smart Energy Provider designation from the American Public Power Association, demonstrating excellence across multiple operational domains.

“PWP is honored to be recognized by the APPA,” said PWP Interim General Manager David Reyes. “As a public power agency, PWP is a community-owned, nonprofit organization. That means we put our community first by operating at a high level in all aspects of our business, from communications to sustainability. We take great pride in being a leader in the industry and are honored to receive recognition for our business practices.”

The APPA’s Safety Awards of Excellence Program, conducted annually, acknowledges public power utilities that prioritize safety in their day-to-day operations. PWP’s Gold designation was based on safety performance data from 2023-2024.

The Smart Energy Provider designation positions PWP among an elite group — one of only nine agencies in California to receive this recognition. The three-year designation celebrates utilities committed to serving their customers while planning for the future, with PWP demonstrating leading practices in four key disciplines: smart energy program structure, energy efficiency and distributed energy resources, environmental and sustainability initiatives, and customer experience.

For its innovative educational outreach, PWP received the Excellence in Public Power Communications Award in the print and digital category for its “Outtawattas Color and Activity Book.” The interactive publication features games and activities designed to increase awareness and enthusiasm around water and energy concepts, efficiency, and safety. According to APPA, its annual communications awards program acknowledges utilities that demonstrate ingenuity and creativity in storytelling through outstanding copy, design, graphics, video editing, and web interactivity. PWP stands among just 23 agencies nationwide to receive this communications award for 2024.

These recent distinctions follow another significant achievement — PWP’s Diamond level Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation, which places it among the top 5% of public power utilities nationwide for providing reliable and safe electric service.

The utility serves a substantial customer base, providing electricity to more than 65,000 customers within Pasadena and delivering water to nearly 38,000 households and businesses in Pasadena and adjacent communities in the San Gabriel Valley. As a community-owned utility, PWP operates as a nonprofit public service owned and operated by the City of Pasadena for the benefit of its customers and the community.

Residents interested in downloading the award-winning activity book or viewing other family-friendly learning materials can visit PWPweb.com/Education. For information about PWP’s vision for the future of sustainable energy, the utility directs customers to PWPweb.com/PowerIRP.