Date:               Oct. 22, 2024

Contact:          Casey Hollins
                         Managing Director—Communications and Public Relations
                         (540)-891-5908, news@myrec.coop

 

REC and BrilliT Data & Analytics Team Wins Prestigious Awards

Fredericksburg, Va. — Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC), through its subsidiary BrilliT, continues to set the standard for utility innovation, earning national recognition for its groundbreaking achievements in data analytics and technology solutions.

BrilliT, a provider of cutting-edge IT, cybersecurity, and data analytics services, not only supports REC but also serves electric utilities across 13 states. Under the leadership of Eugene Hamrick, REC’s Director of Enterprise Analytics and Innovation, the BrilliT Analytics team has been instrumental in driving transformative data-driven strategies that enhance operational efficiency, improve member services, and shape the future of utilities.

The Utility Analytics Institute (UAI) recently honored the BrilliT-led team with multiple prestigious awards, highlighting their industry leadership.

UAI is a utility-led membership organization that provides support to the industry to advance the analytics profession and utilities of all types, sizes, and analytics maturity levels. It includes electric cooperatives, municipalities and investor-owned utilities.

The team won the following awards:

Best Innovative Utility Analytics Team: This award recognizes teams that have set and achieved the highest standards of excellence in utility analytics for problem solving in innovative ways and takes the time to instill that culture in their employees.
 

Best Utility Analytics Leader: Awarded to Director of Enterprise Analytics & Innovation Eugene Hamrick. This award acknowledges and honors the utility analytics leader who has excelled at supporting any or all analytics work within their utility and who most clearly demonstrates the ability to serve and advance analytics within the utility industry.
Top 25 Thought Leader in Utility Analytics: Awarded to Senior Data Scientist Hesen Peng. This award honors those who are the most active in the analytics community and share their insights for the benefit of all.
Peter Muhoro, Ph.D., Chief Strategy, Technology, and Innovation Officer at REC and Executive Vice President and General Manager of BrilliT, emphasized why BrilliT is so essential: “We created BrilliT to serve not only the needs of REC but also to empower other utilities across the country with forward-thinking solutions. As the energy landscape evolves, our commitment is to provide innovative tools, expert IT support including cybersecurity services, and advanced analytics that improve operations, safeguard critical infrastructure, and ultimately deliver better service to members.”

Hamrick shared winning this award was an honor and humbling experience. Just being considered a finalist was a professional highlight. He said in regards to the team award, “Our team shows up every day with a tenacity and passion for data, to innovate and collaborate in solving the big challenges utilities face.”

UAI commended the team’s success, stating: “Our winner is constantly at the forefront of innovation and have become one of the most sought-after teams our members are eager to connect and learn from.”

REC provides electric service to more than 180,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, Va., the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 18,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

BrilliT is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, serving as a dedicated cybersecurity and analytics solutions partner, specializes in providing full IT support services, not only to Rappahannock Electric but to cooperatives across 13 states. With over 400 years of combined industry experience, the BrilliT team understands the unique challenges faced by electric cooperatives and utility partners, from safeguarding member data and privacy to optimizing operational efficiencies. For more information about BrilliT, please visit www.brillit.co.