American Public Gas Association
| Motto | The Voice and Choice for Public Gas |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1961 |
| Type | Trade Association |
| Headquarters | Washington, DC |
| Location |
|
Membership | 742 |
President & C.E.O. | Bert Kalisch |
| Website | http://www.apga.org |
The American Public Gas Association (APGA) is a not for profit trade organization representing America's publicly owned, natural gas local distribution companies (LDCs). APGA represents the interests of public gas before the United States Congress, federal agencies and other energy-related stakeholders by developing regulatory and legislative policies that further the goals of our members. Through APGA, public gas systems work together to stay reliably informed about new developments in safety, public policy, operations, technology, and the marketplace that could affect the communities and consumers they serve. In addition, APGA organizes meetings, seminars, and workshops with a specific goal to improve the reliability, operational efficiency, and regulatory environment in which public gas systems operate.
History
The American Public Gas Association began out of a need to provide a voice for municipal gas systems. In November 1961, the founding fathers, J.H. Johnston of Memphis, TN; F.H. King of Holyoke, MA; E. Switzer of Macon, MO; A. Verrips of Sioux Center, IA., and C. Wheatley of Washington, D.C., as well as representatives from systems in 14 states, met in Washington D.C to establish a nationally recognized organization to advocate on behalf of the Nation’s public gas systems.
Once the objectives were laid out, the group appointed Mr. Francis H. King of Holyoke, MA as the Chairman of APGA pending the election of a President at the first annual conference. A month after the November meeting, on December 8, 1961, the American Public Gas Association was officially formed with the signing of the organizational charter. During this first year, APGA had just thirty members, which number has mushroomed during the ensuing fifty years to over 700 members nationwide.
Founding Objectives: The group set forth with a wide range of objectives, including specifically to, •To promote cooperation between public entities which own or operate gas distribution systems or gas facilities; •To promote the mutual improvement of its members; •To render service to its members, particularly in the fields of management • and operations; engineering, research, supply and demand, construction and safety; accounting and commercial practice; •To develop comprehensive legal and legislative policy; and •To find solution to common problems that affect all public gas systems.
Membership
The American Public Gas Association (APGA) is the only national association of publicly owned natural gas local distribution companies and has over 740 member utilities in 37 states. The term publicly owned natural gas systems applies to:
- Municipal gas distribution systems
- Public utility districts
- County districts and other public agencies that utilize natural gas distribution facilities.
Through APGA membership, public gas systems work together to keep informed about new developments in federal public policy and regulations, safety, operations, new technology, and the global markets that could affect the communities and consumers they serve.
APGA members participate through their association with the organization's committees. Committees include:
- Codes & Standards
- Gas Supply
- Government Relations
- Legislative Issues
- Marketing & Sales
- Natural Gas Vehicles
- Operations & Safety Issues
- Regulatory Issues
Mayors and utility board members can also be involved in the association's activities through participation in the APGA Public Gas Policy Council (PGPC). The PGPC is made up of elected and appointed officials from public gas communities across the US and assists APGA with its advocacy efforts.
Awards
In 2014, APGA recognized 21 publicly owned utilities for achieving excellence in the operation of their natural gas utility. The SOAR program is reviewed by a team of experts from the APGA Operations & Safety Committee and is awarded a rating based on a total cumulative score of points achieved from the program criteria in each of these four areas: System Integrity, System Improvement, Employee Safety, Workforce Development. Those systems that were recognized at the Gold level achieving 97-100% of possible points are:
- Mesa, Ariz
- Tallahassee, Fla.
- Okaloosa Gas District, Fla
2014 APGA Marketing and Sales Awards were given to:
- 2014 CNG Winner: Okaloosa Gas District, Fla. - Winner had a program aimed at educating the public about the benefits of CNG or working in partnership with fleet owners to convert to NGVs.
- 2014 Advertising Winner: Tallahassee, Fla. - Winner had a program that utilizes multimedia advertisements to promote residential or commercial natural gas benefits or institutional branding.
- 2014 System Growth Winner: Mesa, Ariz. - Winner had a program focused on developing system growth through retention, increasing load, building and maintaining burner tips or increasing appliance sales.
- 2014 Consumer Education Winner: Tallahassee, Fla.. - Winner had a program that educates consumers on natural gas benefits, availability, safety, public awareness, or events for public relations.
- 2014 Digital Marketing Winner: Norwich Public Utilities - Winner had a program that utilizes digital media (e.g., social media, website, Facebook, mobile apps, Twitter, YouTube) to promote natural gas.
2014 APGA Safety Management Excellence Award was given to Henderson, Ky., an APGA member system that consistently operates at the highest levels, clearly establishing the system as an achiever of excellence in the field of Safety Management. Nominations now open for the annual Safety Management Excellence Award.
2014 Public Gas System Achievement Award was given to Okaloosa Gas District, Fla., APGA public gas system member whose performance is widely recognized in the public gas industry, has made substantial contributions to the community, other utilities and the goals of APGA.