GP&L Honored for Enhancing the Prestige of Public Power

GARLAND, August 16, 2002 - Garland Power & Light was honored by the Texas Public Power Association on July 31 with the System Achievement Award for improved service to customers and for enhancing the prestige of public power. According to the TPPA, the System Achievement Award recognizes outstanding system achievement by TPPA member organizations.

To be considered for the award, a system must be widely recognized in the public power field, must have acted to enhance the prestige of public power, and must have been a leader in improved service to customers.

"GP&L has been highly proactive in furthering the position of publicly-owned power," says Jim Harder, GP&L director. "Our advocacy on the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas influenced the development of the protocols, rules and systems for deregulation, and working with the Public Utilities Commission helped to ensure that community-owned utilities were exempt from participating in deregulation," he continues.

"GP&L continues to improve the reliability of the electrical power it supplies to Garland homes and businesses, achieving major gains over the past two years when measured against standards established by the Public Utility Commission of Texas," Harder adds.

With more than 67,000 customers, Garland Power & Light is the third largest municipal utility in Texas and the 39th largest in the nation. Since 1923, the City of Garland has been providing electric service to its citizens through its locally owned and controlled not-for-profit municipal utility.

GP&L continually emphasizes customer service and involvement in the industry. Its management and staff are active members of the American Public Power Association, TPPA, ERCOT, and other industry organizations. TPPA presented this year's awards at the 2002 TPPA Annual Meeting Awards Luncheon in Austin.

Organizations and individuals in Texas were recognized for contributions to their communities, public power and TPPA. The Texas Public Power Association represents Texas' publicly owned electric utilities. Members include municipal utilities, joint action agencies, river authorities, and rural electric cooperatives.