THE DALLES — Roger Kline, general manager and CEO Northern Wasco County People's Utility District (NWCPUD), has received the Mark Crisson Leadership and Managerial Excellence Award by the American Public Power Association (APPA). This national recognition honors public power utility and association managers who bring their organizations to new levels of excellence, lead by example, and inspire their employees and staff to improve processes, services, and operations. Kline is the first Pacific Northwest utility leader to receive this award in recent years.
The award was presented today at a ceremony during APPA's National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“For many years, Roger has demonstrated exceptional leadership — not just in his community of Wasco County, Oregon, but also on the regional and national levels,” said APPA President & CEO Scott Corwin. “He is laser-focused on providing excellent day-to-day service to his customers while also keeping an eye on the horizon and preparing the utility — and public power — to rise to the demands and challenges of tomorrow.”
This award recognizes Kline’s strategic vision of expanding NWCPUD's services to address broader community needs. His innovative approach includes spearheading governmental partnerships and collaborations with regional organizations to provide essential services, demonstrating his ability to optimize the District's expertise and resources to solve complex community challenges.
“I'm deeply honored to receive this prestigious award from APPA,” said Kline. “Leading by example and inspiring continuous improvement have always been central to my approach. This award truly reflects the collective efforts of our entire organization as we've worked together to bring our utility to new levels of excellence while staying true to the public power mission of providing reliable, affordable service to our community.”
Under Kline's leadership, the District has achieved remarkable growth while maintaining affordable rates and expanding its services. From 2016-2024, the District's energy sales increased by nearly 150%, growing from 551 million kWh to 1.5 billion kWh. Despite this substantial growth, Kline's commitment to affordability has kept NWCPUD's residential power rates significantly below both the national average and regional competitors.
During Kline’s tenure, NWCPUD has maintained Diamond and Platinum status as a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) since 2018 and has been designated as a Smart Energy Provider (SEP) through 2027. The District was also recently recognized as one of the Top 100 Non-Profits to Work for in Oregon for 2024, ranking 21st among large employers.
Beyond his local leadership, Kline serves on multiple boards, including Western Energy Institute (WEI), Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA), Northwest RiverPartners (NWRP), and QualityLife Intergovernmental Agency (Q-Life). Through these roles, he has advanced regional energy initiatives and strengthened partnerships across the public power community.
The Mark Crisson Leadership and Managerial Excellence Award is given annually by the American Public Power Association to recognize outstanding leadership in the public power sector.
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