Back in January 2020, our GreatBlue Research team published an article discussing Margin for Error. We realized, though, that we could definitely do a better job explaining it. Buckle up everyone, we’re getting nerdy.
News
Effective Strategies For Utility Email Engagement
Building a clean, actionable email list is key to cultivating a community of loyal members. Collecting email addresses and maintaining an updated email list can be a daunting task, but it is essential to sustain effective email campaigns. Email marketing is a proven way to nurture relationships and increase customer satisfaction, and engagement.
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Hometown Connections Announces Annual Award Winners
On August 30 at the 2021 Annual Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado, Hometown Connections announced award winners in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the organization and to community-owned utilities.
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Your Utility Is Required By Law To Establish An Identity Theft Prevention Program
Federal and many state regulations require electric, water, wastewater, and gas utilities to establish an identity theft prevention program. Utilities must have policies and procedures in place to detect, prevent, and mitigate the theft of personal customer information. What does this mean for your community-owned utility? You must evaluate and address all of the ways people can open and access your customer accounts which contain personally identifiable information (PII). Failure to comply with these regulations puts your utility at risk of hefty financial penalties and potential civil lawsuits.
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Governance in Public Power: The Role of Policymakers in Today’s Marketplace
The success of the public power business model depends on utility managers receiving clear guidance from engaged and well-trained governing boards. A high-performing governing board can be one of the utility’s most valuable assets. To be successful, these officials must understand their responsibilities, stay current on industry challenges, and serve as ambassadors for public power by promoting the value of living and working in communities that deliver their own utility services.
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Public Power Insurance Luncheon
Join us for a special event during the American Public Power Association’s 2021 Business & Financial Conference in Denver. Come for lunch on Sept. 20 to learn what’s happening in the municipal cyber and business insurance markets and how you can lower costs and improve coverages through a national group program for APPA members.
The Growing Threat of Ransomware to Public Utilities
The threat of ransomware attacks on the public utility sector is steadily increasing. Historically, these attacks have targeted credit cards and social security numbers sent over email. Lately, attackers are getting more innovative and are stealing from more sources as technology continues to advance[1].
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Customers Engage At High Rates With Video Bill Explanations And Mid-Cycle Alerts
Apogee Interactive recently collected and analyzed results from utilities using our outbound engagement platform for the first quarter. We are proud to announce that with approximately 2 million messages sent by IOUs, Co-ops, and Municipals, our Video Bill Explanation received click-through rates as high as 30%. Utilities sending Mid-Cycle Alerts saw open rates up to 50%.
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Advanced Tutorial: Market Research FAQs
Over the past year, we’ve noticed our clients are a curious bunch, which is awesome. Identifying patterns is how we make a living, so compiling the most frequently asked questions was the most appropriate choice. Let our team here at GreatBlue Research give you a rundown of the most basic market research principles and how to use the results to improve your operations and customer service.
Cybersecurity After COVID-19: 10 Ways To Protect Your Utility & Refocus On Resilience
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant implementation of social distancing directives, altered business processes, and new economic realities, community-owned utilities must review and address their technology infrastructure and cybersecurity measures.