The Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) presented Kirby Bridge, electric superintendent for the City of Alliance, Neb., with its Rudy Hultgren Dedicated Service Award March 18 at the NMPP Energy Annual Conference in Lincoln, Neb.
The award is presented annually to an individual of a MEAN member utility who has displayed commendable efforts in promoting the use of public power and its ideals. MEAN, the wholesale power supply organization of NMPP Energy, serves wholesale power supply and related services to more than 60 communities in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska and Wyoming. The award is a memorial tribute to Rudy Hultgren, a utility consultant and well-known and respected citizen of Lyons, Colo., who played an active role in community service and leadership.
Along with serving the City of Alliance, Bridge has been active within MEAN by serving on the MEAN Board of Directors and on the MEAN Services Committee as well as on a joint-utility committee that is researching new regional utility training opportunities.
Under Bridge’s leadership, the City of Alliance converted its electric distribution infrastructure to underground to significantly improve system reliability. He also led the City’s transition to AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) metering to modernize operations and led efforts to advance the City’s recent community solar project.
Bridge’s award nomination cited his unwavering dedication and commitment to excellence and collaboration in serving the Alliance community and MEAN.
As the recipient of the award, Bridge received $350 which will be designated to go to a community project or group.