FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 26, 2004
CONTACT: Jennifer Neville, 720-962-7054, neville@wapa.gov
 
Western recognizes Casper resident for exceptional service
LAKEWOOD, Colo.Casper resident Phil Johnson will receive Western Area Power Administration’s highest honor at a ceremony July 29 at Western’s Casper Field Office in Wyoming. Western’s Administrator Mike Hacskaylo will present Johnson with Western’s Exceptional Service Award during the ceremony.
        “I congratulate Phil Johnson for making outstanding daily contributions to Western. Phil exemplifies our values by serving his customers and peers with great dedication. His skills, initiative and commitment help to make Western a premier power marketing and transmission organization,” Hacskaylo said.
        Working in his hometown, Casper’s Lead Engineer Johnson continues to show the extensive knowledge and experience that he’s gained since joining Western as an electrical engineer in 1979.
Johnson receives Western’s highest honor for using his expertise to balance customer concerns and special projects with day-to-day tasks. Johnson provides excellent customer service while still encouraging sound business practices. He keeps customer concerns at the forefront of every project and system change.
        He’s been instrumental in getting projects like the Bighorn metering project, Whiterock Substation and Yellowtail transformer addition off the ground by offering conceptual ideas and strategies. Johnson’s knowledge of the power system across Rocky Mountain is second to none. He regularly exercises mature engineering judgment and managerial wisdom in local, regional and Westernwide decisions.
        Johnson has served as chairman of the Arc Flash Committee since 2003 to mitigate arc flash hazards across RM’s system. He demonstrates outstanding commitment to this effort while displaying technical expertise, sound judgment and realistic progress expectations.
        When he’s not working, Johnson spends time raising cattle. Johnson and his wife Lori have three children, Ivy, Jeromy and Brad.
        Western Exceptional Award recipients:         Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 10,000 megawatts of power from hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 15 western and central states. It is part of the Department of Energy.
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Serving the West with Federal hydropower