Performance Reporting
At BVU Authority, performance reporting plays a critical role in maintaining transparency, accountability, and service excellence across all three of our core utilities—Electric, Water, and Wastewater. These reports are more than just statistics—they are a reflection of our commitment to delivering dependable utility services to every customer, every day.
Electric System Metrics: SAIDI and SAIFI
BVU tracks electric service reliability using two key industry-standard metrics:
- System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI)
- System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI)
These metrics are defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) under IEEE Standard 1366, which establishes consistent methods for utility reliability reporting and benchmarking.
What is SAIDI?
SAIDI represents the average total duration of interruptions for each customer served during a specific period, usually a calendar year. It is measured in minutes.
For example, if 10,000 customers experience a total of 500,000 minutes of power outages in a year, the SAIDI would be 50 minutes.
What is SAIFI?
SAIFI measures the average number of interruptions that a customer experiences over a defined period.
So if those same 10,000 customers experienced 3,000 outages collectively, the SAIFI would be 0.3.
Exclusions Under IEEE 1366
To ensure fair and comparable results across all utilities, IEEE 1366 allows utilities to exclude data associated with Major Event Days (MEDs)—rare, extreme events such as severe storms that dramatically increase outage numbers. The exclusion of MEDs helps present a clearer picture of a utility's normal operational performance.
Our Target: Stay Below National Averages
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports national averages for utilities annually. As of the latest data:
- National SAIDI (without MEDs): ~367 minutes
- BVU SAIDI (2024): 36.3 minutes
- National SAIFI (without MEDs): ~1.67 interruptions per customer
- BVU SAIFI (2024): 0.341 interruptions per customer
BVU consistently outperforms the national averages by wide margins—our SAIDI is 90% lower and our SAIFI is 80% lower than national benchmarks. These results demonstrate the exceptional reliability of our electric system and underscore the impact of our proactive investments in smart grid technology, vegetation management, and system automation.
Recent Recognition: APPA Excellence in Reliability Award
In 2023, BVU received the Excellence in Reliability Award from the American Public Power Association (APPA). This award honors utilities that rank among the top 25% nationally in reliability performance, as measured by IEEE metrics.
Earning this award means:
- Our data was validated and submitted through APPA's eReliability Tracker.
- Our reliability outcomes consistently demonstrated fewer and shorter interruptions than peer utilities.
- We maintained strong asset management and outage response practices.
This recognition highlights the performance of our linemen, engineers, and system planners who work around the clock to deliver reliable electricity to homes and businesses.
Why It Matters to Customers
High performance in SAIDI and SAIFI means that BVU customers experience:
- Fewer power interruptions over the course of a year
- Shorter outage durations when interruptions do occur
- More stable service, even during adverse conditions
Lower SAIDI and SAIFI scores translate into a better customer experience and greater confidence in BVU's ability to keep your lights on.
Looking Ahead
We continue to publish internal and external performance reports that provide:
- Annual reliability data for comparison with industry benchmarks
- Capital improvement impacts on system performance
- Reporting on planned vs. unplanned outages
- After-action reporting for major events
These tools guide our future investments and help customers understand the value of reliable service. BVU remains committed to data-driven decision-making and public transparency as part of our long-term utility strategy.
