The City of Concord Electric Systems received the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2025, according to an April 14 announcement. The utility earned the highest Diamond level award in its category for utilities with 110,000-249,999 worker-hours of annual exposure.
The recognition highlights the importance of safety in electric utility work, which involves handling high voltage lines and heavy machinery under challenging conditions. The award underscores efforts to protect workers and ensure reliable service for customers.
Alex Burris, Director of Concord Electric Systems, said, “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the men and women on our team who show up every day with a shared commitment to safely deliver reliable power to homes and businesses across our community. They have dangerous and demanding jobs. Safety must be top of mind every day, and I’m proud of our entire team for consistently supporting one another and continuously achieving the highest standards in our industry.”
Jenny Volpicelli, Safety Coordinator at Concord Electric Systems, plays a key role by ensuring crews have proper personal protective equipment and receive regular training on industry safety standards. “Safety is a team effort in our department. I’m here to support our team with the tools and training they need, but I’m just a small piece of the puzzle in making sure our crews safely keep our lights on,” Volpicelli said.
Jon Beasley, Chair of APPA’s Safety Committee and Vice-President of Electric Cities of GA., said about all recipients: “In Public Power, safety excellence isn’t achieved by chance. It’s earned through unwavering discipline, strong leadership, and a culture where every team member looks out for one another. These Safety Award recipients stand as proof that commitment and consistency save lives, strengthen communities, and set the benchmark for our entire industry.”
APPA has presented annual safety awards for more than six decades based on incident-free records during each year as defined by Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.
City facilities include an airport as well as multiple fire stations according to the official website. Services provided also cover utility management such as electricity delivery along with emergency response operations according to the official website.
