Concord Electric Systems Earns National Recognition for Outstanding Safety Practices

The City of Concord Electric Systems earned the American Public Power Association's (APPA) Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2025. Concord Electric Systems earned the highest Diamond level award in the category for utilities with 110,000-249,999 worker-hours of annual worker exposure.

"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," said Alex Burris, Director of Concord Electric Systems. "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."

Electric linework is a dangerous job requiring crews to work with heavy machinery and handle high voltage power lines 100 feet in the air and underground, through all types of inclement weather and extreme temperatures, to keep the lights on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Concord Electric Systems' Safety Coordinator, Jenny Volpicelli, helps keep Concord's electric crews prepared and ready for all conditions so they can get the job done and go home safe each night to their families. Volpicelli ensures the crews have proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and receive regular training on the latest industry safety standards and practices.

"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," said Volpicelli.

Thanks to the teamwork across all divisions, Concord Electric Systems was one of just 240 public power utilities across the nation to earn an APPA Safety Award.

"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," said Jon Beasley, Chair of APPA's Safety Committee and Vice-President of Electric Cities of GA. "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 conducted the annual Safety Awards for more than 68 years. Utilities earn diamond, platinum, or gold-level awards in groups based on their number of worker-hours of exposure. Utilities are ranked based on the most incident-free records and overall state of their safety programs and culture during 2025. The incidence rate is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2025, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The American Public Power Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.

The City of Concord is proud to be one of North Carolina's public power communities. Concord Electric Systems is community-owned and operated and has been delivering exceptional reliability and superior service to customers since 1904. The City's electric department currently has over 80 employees who operate more than 1,700 miles of distribution lines and 21 substations and deliveries, to serve over 34,000 residential and commercial customers.

Members of Concord Electric Systems at City Hall with the APPA Safety Award of Excellence

Jenny Volpicelli, Concord Electric Systems' Safety Coordinator, with the APPA Safety Award of Excellence