For Gaffney Board of Public Works, this year’s Arbor Day tree planting ceremony at Limestone Central Elementary looked a little different than in years past. On Wednesday, the BPW tree-trimming crew planted three trees in the school’s front lawn with only principal Dr. Bryan Hullender in attendance. Even though students aren’t at school right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was important for BPW to proceed with their annual Arbor Day planting. And to commemorate this particular year, a different type of tree was chosen to be planted – a dawn redwood. The dawn redwood will retain 150- to 200-foot height when it’s fully matured, explained BPW crew chief and arborist Ernie Ramsey. “With this year’s COVID pandemic, I wanted to plant this specific tree so the Limestone Central students can look back one day, see this huge tree, and remember this particular moment in time.”

For the third consecutive time, Gaffney Board of Public Works has earned a Platinum Level Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)® designation from the American Public Power Association for providing reliable and safe electric service.   The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. Board of Public Works joins more than 275 public power utilities nationwide that hold the RP3 designation.  “Receiving an RP3 designation is a great honor and demonstrates a utility’s commitment to implementing industry best practices in utility operations,” says Aaron Haderle, Chair of the Association’s RP3 Review Panel and Manager of Transmission and Distribution Operations at ‎Kissimmee Utility Authority, Florida. “RP3 utilities are consistently looking to improve their workforce, system reliability, and safety to serve their communities better.”   “This is a great honor,” said Donnie Hardin, BPW General Manager. “We take a lot of pride in the work we do to power our community. We have a very dedicated and hard-working electrical crew, and it’s nice to be recognized as among the ‘best of the best’ on a national level.”

Once again, Gaffney Board of Public Works has the lowest electric rates of all electric utility companies in the state of South Carolina. A survey, released by Piedmont Municipal Power Agency on Monday, shows BPW on the bottom of the list of S.C. electric providers that is ranked from highest rates to lowest.

As of about 10:30 this morning, power restoration should be 100% complete. If you are still without power, please call us at 488-8800 to let us know....

Dear Editor, Recently the South Carolina Legislature passed and the Governor signed legislation that provides for an entity undertaking a new transportation system improvement project to bear the cost related to relocating water and sewer lines.  This requirement is especially important...