(Sept. 23) Northwest Public Power Association announced the winners of the 31st Excellence in Communications Awards contest last Wednesday at the association’s Northwest Innovations in Communications Conference in Boise, Idaho. This annual contest honors the best communications efforts made by NWPPA member utilities and associations.
“Congratulations to this year’s Excellence in Communications Awards winners and thank you to everyone who participated,” said 2024 NIC Chair Melissa Greenwood. “Your outstanding work not only elevates your own organizations but also sets a benchmark for all of us in public power communications.”
This year, NWPPA members submitted 257 entries across nine categories. Contestants were divided into four groups based on the amount of electricity they sell, with Group A selling the least and Group D selling the most. Nine marketing and communications professionals from throughout the Northwest volunteered their time to judge the entries. A complete list of the first-, second-, and third-place winners can be found at the end of this release.
In addition to the Excellence in Communications awards, NWPPA presented the 2024 Overall Excellence in Communications Award to Emerald PUD. Winners of the award are determined based on performance in the Excellence in Communications contest. Emerald PUD received two first-place awards and an average score of 43.7 out of 50 points, including one perfect score. Tyler Boehringer was on hand to accept the award on behalf of the utility.
NWPPA also announced the People’s Choice Awards in photography winners, determined by the votes of NIC attendees. Grant County PUD (Ephrata, Wash.) won Best Photo – Employee, Inland Power & Light (Spokane, Wash.) won Best Photo – Youth, and Snohomish County PUD (Everett, Wash.) won Best Photo – Miscellaneous.
The Excellence in Communications Awards will next be presented at the NIC on Sept. 24, 2025, at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, Montana.
Download the full press release, including a list of winning entries, here.