NYPA Press Release

International High-Standard Distinction Recognizes NYPA’s Role in Advancing New York State’s Nation-Leading Clean Energy Goals

Commitment to Asset Reliability, Resiliency Lauded

WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) today announced that the Authority,for the second time, has achieved prestigious international certification for meeting the most rigorous power generation and transmission asset management standards set forth by the International Organization for Standardization. The announcement celebrates NYPA’s accomplishment three years ago when the Authority became the first electric utility in North America to achieve the international certification for best utility operations practices, known as ISO55001. Known in the utility industry as the ‘gold standard’ for asset management, the award confirms that NYPA continues to maintain the highest asset management standards, enabling the utility to consistently contribute to the advancement of New York State’s nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

“I am extremely proud that the New York Power Authority continues to meet the International Organization for Standardizations strict asset management practices and that NYPA has maintained best-in-class status while weathering a challenging three-year period spanning the global pandemic and many changes,” said NYPA Interim President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “NYPA’s management practices impact our customers and the residents of New York, so we hold ourselves to a high standard. The renewal of this prestigious accreditation affirms that operations excellence is part of NYPA’s genetic make-up. I congratulate all the teams involved across NYPA for their hard work and dedication.”

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) issues globally recognized requirements for compliance with best practices in the utility industry for asset management. The Institute of Asset Management (IAM) endorses organizations to assess against the ISO criteria. Superior asset management enables an organization to achieve several important operational and financial goals. They include reducing the cost of its capital and operations while improving risk management and environmental compliance. It also provides a methodology and mindset for achieving continual improvement – a critically important goal for any utility.

“NYPA has continued to use and evolve their asset management system in the three years since our initial audit. We can now see the maturity and the tangible benefits demonstrated at all levels of the business,” said William Higinbotham, President of EA Technology’s North American office. “Everyone we saw and spoke to during the audit had a deep appreciation for the asset management system and its impact in meeting NYPA's strategic goals.”

NYPA’s assets include the people, equipment, systems, and infrastructure that allow for the effective operation of its 16 power plants, including its flagship hydroelectric projects on the Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers, and its 1,400 circuit miles of high-voltage transmission lines. NYPA, the nation’s largest state-owned electric utility, provides up to one-quarter of the electricity in New York.

“It is evident from this designation that we are including risk, finance, operations, our Integrated Smart Operations Center-- a thorough, overarching monitoring and diagnostic process--in our daily decision-making so that we can keep our assets in a state of good repair – all to benefit our customers. We remain the only state utility in North America to have this accreditation and this is a true tribute to the NYPA team,” said Joseph Kessler, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, New York Power Authority.

The audit found NYPA’s asset management system in both design and day-to-day application to be in full compliance with the standard.

NYPA’s path to ISO55001 certification began following the publication of the organization’s first comprehensive Strategic Plan, approved by NYPA’s Board of Trustees in 2014, which identified asset management as one of its key strategic initiatives. Following a five-month assessment and audit, NYPA achieved the certification in August 2019. 

The rigorous certification process required NYPA’s internal asset management practices to comply with the ISO55001 standards and be subject to an independent audit in this case, EA Technology Ltd.

The two-stage audit evaluated:

• NYPA’s policies, processes, and procedures;
• Evidence that the asset management system is implemented in actual operations;
• How policies and procedures were being followed on a day-to-day basis, in such areas as maintenance, risk response, emergency preparedness, safety protocols, training and communications.

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About NYPA

NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.

About the Institute for Asset Management

The Institute of Asset Management (the IAM) is the international professional body for asset management professionals. The IAM develops asset management knowledge and best practice and generates awareness of the benefits of the asset management discipline for the individual, organizations, and wider society. Established in 1994, the IAM currently has over 2,700 members and a network of over 30,000 people globally.

About EA Technology Ltd
EA Technology Ltd is a specialist in asset management solutions for owners and operators of electrical assets. Headquartered in the UK, EA has a global network of operations and customers with regional offices around the world. EA is committed to providing its customers with innovative products and services, consultancy and training, which deliver tangible benefits to create safer, stronger and smarter networks for today and the future.