In February, Adams Electric 
Cooperative was presented with the top honor and first ever Excellence Award by the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) in recognition of outstanding dedication and leadership to the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program and in appreciation of their contributions to furthering the safety culture among Illinois Electric Cooperatives.
The AIEC developed the award to annually recognize a member cooperative that has gone beyond the basic Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP) criteria, and has achieved the highest level of Safety and Regulatory Compliance.
“I am very proud of this accomplishment. It is a positive reflection on all of us and on the safety culture we have created here,” said Jim Thompson, General Manager.
The criteria to receive the award was as follows:
- CEO, Board and staff dedication and commitment to RESAP
- Ensuring RESAP paperwork is completed on time
- Staff continually volunteer for Onsite Assessments regardless of location
- Development, completion and continued briefing of Safety Improvement Plan
- Ensure all staff participate in the RESAP process
- Dedication toward ensuring all areas of compliance are fully achieved
- Identify Safety as a board priority and include safety programs in co-op’s strategic plan
- Embracing and applying continuing innovations to the RESAP program including the concept of an Unannounced Onsite Assessment
- Develop a consistent and ongoing safety culture within the organization
- Promote safety education among all staff, encouraging staff to take the message of safety out to the community
Thompson added, “As an organization, we have developed the traits of working together, communicating, listening, improving processes, and sharing responsibility that help guide our day-to-day actions to help make us successful.”
RESAP was established by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to strengthen leadership engagement, create a continuous safety improvement plan, provide honest feedback to support improvement, promote employee involvement, and better enable co-ops to reduce injuries over time.
Pictured (l-r): Steve Davis, AIEC Manager of Regulatory Compliance; Mike DeWitt, Adams Electric Design and Construction Supervisor; Jim Thompson, Adams Electric General Manager; Tim Brecht, Adams Electric Manager of Engineering and Operations; and Duane Noland, AIEC President/CEO.