About APPA

The American Public Power Association (APPA), based in Washington, D.C., is the service organization for the nation’s more than 2,000 community-owned electric utilities. Collectively, these utilities serve more than 47 million Americans.

APPA was created in 1940 as a nonprofit, non-partisan organization to advance the public policy interests of its members and their consumers, and provide member services to ensure adequate, reliable electricity at a reasonable price with the proper protection of the environment.

Policy positions emphasize the importance of hometown decision making that puts customers first and ensures a stable supply of electricity while protecting the environment. Since two-thirds of public power systems do not generate their own electricity and instead buy it on the wholesale market for distribution to customers, securing competitively priced and reliable wholesale power is a priority.

APPA participates in a wide range of legislative and regulatory forums. It advocates policies that:

• ensure reliable electricity service at competitive costs;
• advance diversity and equity in the electric utility industry;
• promote effective competition in the wholesale electricity marketplace;
• protect the environment and the health and safety of electricity consumers and;
• safeguard the ability of communities to provide infrastructure services that their consumers require.

APPA is governed by a regionally representative Board of Directors.