Why does customer satisfaction (CSat) matter to utilities? Several of the leading experts in CSat have concluded that by having satisfied customers, utilities receive more favorable regulatory outcomes. In addition, CSat can be used as both an offensive and defensive strategy. From the offensive perspective, satisfied customers are more likely to buy more products and services. From a defensive perspective, they are less likely to adopt disruptive technologies. Read More about Customer Satisfaction Pays »
News
MPUA Offers Cybersecurity Monitoring Services to Members
This article presents excerpts from a brochure describing MPUA’s cybersecurity program for members. Download the full brochure here. MPUA is a not-for-profit service organization representing municipally-owned utilities in Missouri, Arkansas, and Kansas.
The utility industry has become increasingly aware of cybersecurity threats. In response, MPUA/MJMEUC launched a Cybersecurity Initiative to offer monitoring services that protect our utilities and show regulators, legislators, and the financial world that the group is doing its due diligence about these risks. Read More about MPUA Offers Cybersecurity Monitoring Services to Members »
Carey Kicks Off AMI Project
The Village of Carey Ohio’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project kicked off on Jan. 15, with American Municipal Power Inc. (AMP) and Hometown Connections Inc. (HCI) personnel visiting the village offices to cover the scope and timeline of the project. As reported by AMP’s Jared Price, Vice President of IT and Chief Technology Officer, the project will install a new RF Mesh system and replace 1,926 electric meters and 1,438 water meters throughout the village. Installation should begin near mid-year and be completed by the end of 2019. Read More about Carey Kicks Off AMI Project »
Apply for RP3 Status — It’s Easier than You Think
From May 1 through September 30, 2019, public power utilities may apply online for designation by the American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) program. As a career public power professional involved in the program since its founding in 2005, I can attest to the value of the RP3 designation and reassure potential applicants about the process. With a little outside support, your utility is more likely to succeed than you may expect, and the staff time to complete the application is less than you might think. RP3 designation represents a distinguished achievement in public power. Being recognized by the RP3 program demonstrates a utility’s commitment to excellence to customers, community leaders, governing board members, suppliers, and service providers. Read More about Apply for RP3 Status — It’s Easier than You Think »
Al Weber Brings Public Power Smart Grid Sales Expertise to Staff of Hometown Connections
A highly recognized smart grid sales executive with demonstrated leadership success in the utilities market, Al Weber has joined the staff of Hometown Connections as Vice President, Business Development. He has a long and acclaimed track record of managing complex system and software partnerships, product development, market development, account closings, contract negotiations, and project delivery. Read More about Al Weber Brings Public Power Smart Grid Sales Expertise to Staff of Hometown Connections »
10 Types of Cyber Attack Electric Utilities Suffered in 2018
Read More about 10 Types of Cyber Attack Electric Utilities Suffered in 2018 »
Twenty Years and Counting
Hometown Connections Prepares for Next Phase of Service to Public Power, By Tim Blodgett, President & CEO, Hometown Connections, Inc.
Celebrating 20 years of service to public power, Hometown Connections has in place a new ownership structure providing the resources to expand into managed technology solutions and other new services. Hometown Connections is poised to help public power utilities tackle their most pressing technology, workforce, and management challenges far into the future. Back in 1998, the American Public Power Association created a subsidiary—Hometown Connections International LLC—to negotiate with industry vendors as a group and prepare community-owned utilities for retail customer competition. The retail market did not evolve as expected, but Hometown Connections continued to work with leading industry vendors to create pricing and programs designed to improve the performance of public power utilities. Along the way, Hometown developed an expanding set of utility management strategic planning and organizational consulting services delivered by staff members and industry partners. Read More about Twenty Years and Counting »
Realize a Complete End-to-End Solution with Holistic Approach to Cyber Risk Management
With relevant insights, Acumen’s Cyber Security and Risk Management Consultants can provide any level of guidance for risk management. Acumen’s goal is to help public power utilities understand cyber risk and develop strategies and frameworks that support sustainable solutions and with knowledge-transfer for you and the utility. Read More about Realize a Complete End-to-End Solution with Holistic Approach to Cyber Risk Management »
N.C. Cooperative Biogas Microgrid Powers Hog Farm and Nearby Homes
South River Electric Membership Corporation and North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, in partnership with Butler Farms, recently celebrated the completion of a first-of-its-kind biogas microgrid. PowerSecure, selected by project owners to engineer, construct and design components of the microgrid, participated in the celebration event. Read More about N.C. Cooperative Biogas Microgrid Powers Hog Farm and Nearby Homes »
Peak Shaving Generation System Provides Major Savings To Greenville Utilities & Large Industrial Customer
A polyethylene (plastic) fiber manufacturer, DSM Dyneema has expanded its production capability rapidly since starting operations in Greenville, North Carolina, in 2003. Dyneema runs production 24/7 for a variety of product lines, with a current annual peak demand of about 12 MW. The Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC) and its wholesale power supplier, the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA), had been providing electric economic development credits for these plant expansions. As the majority of these credits began to expire a few years ago, GUC approached Dyneema to suggest the company install peak shaving generation to offset the expiring credits. Dyneema had heavily invested in plant expansions and did not have the capital or resources to finance a generator project. Read More about Peak Shaving Generation System Provides Major Savings To Greenville Utilities & Large Industrial Customer »