Umatilla Electric Cooperative was awarded the Northwest Public Power Association’s (NWPPA) Overall Excellence in Communications Award on Sept. 20 during the organizations 30th Annual Northwest Innovations in Communications (NIC) Conference in Santa Rosa, Calif.
This award is given to an organization that judges determine had the best overall communications effort in the prior year, regardless of size and type of utility (PUD, Municipality or Cooperative). This is UEC’s second time receiving the award, and the first utility to win the award back-to-back.
In addition to that award, UEC received five first place awards out of eight total categories judged at the conference. UEC received five first-place awards, an average score of 44.2 out of 50 points, and two perfect scores in the contest. The awards include: First Place Annual Report, First Place External Newsletter (Ruralite Magazine), First Place Special Publication (Solar Bill Insert), First Place Internal Communications, and First Place Wildcard (Lineworker Appreciation Day Video).
Nine marketing and communications professionals from throughout the Northwest volunteered their time to judge each entry.
Earlier in the year, UEC was also honored with two First Place Gold awards by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Spotlight on Excellence Awards.