American Public Gas Association

APGA's President and CEO Dave Schryver was thrilled to be present for the groundbreaking of Citizens Energy Group's $7.5 million project to upgrade natural gas infrastructure in Indianapolis. Citizens was one of 37 recipients for this round of infrastructure funding via the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)'s Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization grant, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Read more about the event and this project at https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/news/citizens-energy-group-congressman-andr%C3%A9-carson-local-and-national-leaders-break-ground-on-7.5-million-in-upgrades-to-natural-gas-infrastructure

Many thanks to the Borough Of Chambersburg, PA, for hosting APGA staff last week for a tour of their facilities and to meet with their gas utility leadership staff as well as their General Manager/Director of Utilities Jeffrey Stonehill & President of their Town Council Allen Coffman to see all the hard work and proactive, detailed processes that go into making its gas operations safe, efficient, and reliable for its customers. The Borough of Chambersburg has been recognized for its outstanding utility operations and safety practices as an APGA Gold SOAR winner. The borough also recently received a combined $10.8 million in federal funding from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)'s Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure and Safety Modernization ( ) grant which will allow the borough to complete the tricky replacement of five miles of legacy cast iron pipes. Read more about how the borough will use these funds to improve its infrastructure and reduce methane emissions while keeping energy costs low for its customers at https://www.publicopiniononline.com/story/news/local/2024/05/06/us-dot-chambersburg-funding-replace-cast-iron-pipes/73538617007/

Happy 8/11 Day! Avoiding potential catastrophes while digging is as simple as making sure you Call 811 Before You Dig! Whether you’re a homeowner or a professional, it’s crucial to contact 811 a few days in advance to have underground utilities marked. Stay safe this summer!

This Sunday is 8/11 Day (Aug. 11) – a reminder to ALWAYS contact 811 before you dig! Energy Worldnet, Inc. & Miller Pipeline have put together a fun video about the importance of following damage prevention best practices, and yes, that *is* Steve Allen! Watch the video on YouTube!

811 Day: The Excavator Always remember to call 8-1-1 before you dig and follow best practices when digging around utilities.

At our 2024 Annual Conference, APGA recognized the winners of the 2024 APGA Safety Contest! These 43 gas systems highlight the dedication of APGA members in maintaining the highest safety standards within their system, their communities, and in the natural gas industry. View winners: https://www.apga.org/programs/awards/safetycontest

Among the winning systems, Decatur Utilities, Decatur Alabama, Orange City Municipal Utilities, IA, Jefferson Cocke County Utility District, and City of Ellensburg, WA Government received an award for meeting the criteria to win the safety contest five years in a row. The City of Lawrenceville, GA, received an award for meeting the criteria 10 years in a row. Chester County Natural Gas Authority, SC, and Paris Henry County Public Utility District, TN, received an award for meeting the criteria 15 years in a row. In addition, the City Utilities of Springfield, MO received an award for meeting the criteria 20 years in a row! These are remarkable achievements and serve the entire industry by exemplifying what it means to set and maintain high performance and safety standards!

At our 2024 Annual Conference, APGA was proud to recognize the 2024 System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) program winners! SOAR is an excellence recognition program for outstanding utility operations and safety practices. The 2024 Gold SOAR winners are the City of Covington, GA - Government, Rocky Mount Energy Resources, Greenville Utilities Commission, Knoxville Utilities Board, & Watertown Municipal Utilities, SD. The 2024 Silver SOAR winners are Austin Utilities, Palo Alto Utilities, CA, Decatur Utilities, Decatur Alabama, JCE Co-op, Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW), Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District, Midwest Energy, Inc., Oak Ridge Utility District, Scottsboro Water, Sewer, and Gas Board, and Southeast Gas. The 2024 Bronze SOAR winners: Chester County Natural Gas Authority, Monroe North Carolina, City of Tifton, City of Warner Robins Government, CPS Energy, Greenwood CPW, Kennett Board of Public Works, MO, Long Beach Utilities, City of Perry Government, and West Tennessee Public Utility District. View all SOAR winners and more about the SOAR program at https://www.apga.org/programs/soar

It is hard to believe our 2024 Annual Conference was just last week! Once again, congratulations to the winners of our 2024 APGA Awards:

Communications & Marketing Award winners: 1st Place: Riviera Utilities, AL, for TikTok Strategy, 2nd Place: York County Natural Gas Authority, SC, for Gas Gourmet Culinary Workshop, & 3rd Place: Owatonna Public Utilities, MN, for Hidden Gems

Community Service Award: City of Tallahassee, FL - Government

Distinguished Service Award: Chris Latch, Corinth Water & Gas, MS

Excellence in Environmental Stewardship Award: City of Tallahassee, FL

Harry M. Cooke Personal Service Award: Kim Weaver, Magnolia River

J. Hardie Johnston Service Award Recipients: Glen Boatwright, York County Natural Gas Authority, SC & Gary Gibson, City Utilities of Springfield, MO

Next Generation Employee Achievement Award: Ben Carey, Knoxville Utilities Board, TN

Personal Achievement Award: Jocelyn McInturff, Knoxville Utilities Board, TN

Public Gas System Achievement Award: Interior Gas Utility, AK

Public Gas System Good Samaritan Award: City of Ellensburg, WA Government

RF Distinguished Service Award: Congratulations to... Todd Gentle, Huntsville Utilities, AL

Safety Management Excellence Award: Huntsville Utilities, AL

Safety Contest Award: Congratulations to all 43 winners of the 2024 APGA Safety Contest (see https://www.apga.org/programs/awards/safetycontest )

System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Award Winners: Congratulations to all 25 of the 2024 SOAR Winners (see https://www.apga.org/.../soar/programs-yearly-soar-winners )

Read all about the 2024 APGA Awards here: https://www.apga.org/annualconference/awards

This morning, our now Past Chair, Chris Latch of Corinth Gas & Water Department, MS, handed off the gavel to our now Chair of the APGA Board of Directors, Kathy Garcia of CPS Energy, TX. Many thanks to Chris for his stewardship this past year, and APGA looks forward to the next year with our new leadership which includes: First Vice Chair Mike Casper of JCE Co-op, IL; Second Vice Chair Stephen Mayfield of City of Tallahassee, FL - Government, FL; and, Treasurer Jason Padgett of North Baldwin Utilities, AL.

Congratulations to our board members who were renominated for a second term, and we thank you for your service to APGA:

Chris Anderson of City of CentralCity Nebraska
Jeff Deason of York County Natural Gas Authority, Rock Hill, SC
Robert Miller of City of Monroe, Monroe North Carolina
John Zuk of Philadelphia Gas Works, Philadelphia, PA
Steve Allen of Energy Worldnet, Inc., Decatur, TX

Congratulations to our newly elected board members, and we thank you for your service to APGA:

Jacob Allen of West Tennessee Public Utility District, Huntingdon, TN
Brian Dove of Cullman Jefferson Counties Gas District, Cullman, AL
Bradley Utz of Ed Young Sales Co., Charlotte, NC

The second day of our 2024 APGA Annual Conference kicked off with a welcome by Kathy Garcia of CPS Energy. Attendees heard from David Holt of the Consumer Energy Alliance about the possible ramifications of 2024 elections on energy policy, former Chair of the Mississippi Public Service Commission Brandon Presley discussed the energy future and how rewarding it is to be a public servant, and Mississippi State Bulldog Head Baseball Coach Chris Lemonis talked about leadership and dealing with adversity.

Today's 2024 APGA Annual Conference afternoon session featured Steve Squibb of City Utilities of Springfield, MO, Steve Allen of Energy Worldnet, Inc. (previously Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission), Mike Comstock of Everline (previously of City of Mesa, Arizona), and Alan Chichester of American Gas Association discussing the importance of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC). GPAC serves as an advisory body for the Department of Transportation (DOT) and is responsible for evaluating proposed pipeline safety and environmental protection standards, as well as providing information, advice, and recommendations on policy initiatives. There are 15 members of the GPAC, five of which represent the full natural gas pipeline industry. Steve Squibb currently serves on GPAC, and Steve Allen and Mike Comstock are former GPAC members.

Congratulations to West Tennessee Public Utility District on their 2024 APGA BRONZE System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Award win! A system must get 80-89% of all possible points to achieve bronze SOAR status. More about SOAR: https://apga.org/programs/soar

Congratulations to the City of Perry Government on their 2024 APGA BRONZE System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Award win! A system must get 80-89% of all possible points to achieve bronze SOAR status. More about SOAR: https://apga.org/programs/soar

Congratulations to Long Beach Utilities on their 2024 APGA BRONZE System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Award win! A system must get 80-89% of all possible points to achieve bronze SOAR status. More about SOAR: https://apga.org/programs/soar

Congratulations to Greenwood CPW on their 2024 APGA BRONZE System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Award win! A system must get 80-89% of all possible points to achieve bronze SOAR status. More about SOAR: https://apga.org/programs/soar

Congratulations to the City of Tifton on their 2024 APGA BRONZE System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Award win! A system must get 80-89% of all possible points to achieve bronze SOAR status. More about SOAR: https://apga.org/programs/soar

Congratulations to Southeast Gas on their 2024 APGA SILVER System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Award win! A system must get 90-96% of all possible points to achieve silver SOAR status. More about SOAR: https://apga.org/programs/soar

Congratulations to Scottsboro Water, Sewer, and Gas Board on their 2024 APGA SILVER System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Award win! A system must get 90-96% of all possible points to achieve silver SOAR status. More about SOAR: https://apga.org/programs/soar

Congratulations to Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District on their 2024 APGA SILVER System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Award win! A system must get 90-96% of all possible points to achieve silver SOAR status. More about SOAR: https://apga.org/programs/soar

Congratulations to Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW) on their 2024 APGA SILVER System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Award win! A system must get 90-96% of all possible points to achieve silver SOAR status. More about SOAR: https://apga.org/programs/soar