IOUs named best-in-industry for corporate customer service by Edison Electric Institute

Five of the nation’s largest investor-owned utilities on Monday received outstanding customer service awards from their representative organization, the Edison Electric Institute (EEI).

American Electric Power (AEP), Entergy Corp., Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison, and the Southern Company, were named recipients of EEI’s 2023 Awards for Outstanding Customer Engagement.

“This year’s award recipients have demonstrated their dedication to partnering with and serving corporate customers,” EEI President and CEO Dan Brouillette said. “They have exceeded expectations in all aspects of the electric company-customer relationship.”

Such a relationship, Brouillette said, includes managing day-to-day customer service, providing emergency communications and operations support, and delivering products and services that help customers meet their clean energy and operation goals.

EEI, which has presented these awards annually for the past 25 years, recognizes its IOU members and their National Key Accounts executives for outstanding engagement and partnership with corporate customers.

The Awards for Outstanding National Key Accounts were established by the Customer Advisory Group, which is composed of national corporate customers that provide feedback, guidance, and support to EEI’s National Key Accounts program. 

Numerous corporate customers representing myriad industries — such as 7-Eleven, Amazon, Costco, Hertz, Intel, Marriott, Microsoft, Prologis, Starbucks, The Home Depot, and Walmart — cast votes for the awards. 

“These awards are important to corporate customers,” said Steve Chriss, senior director of utility partnerships for Walmart. “It allows us to recognize electric companies and individuals who help us to do our jobs better and work toward our goals. 

“Now more than ever, these relationships and partnerships are critical for our transition to a sustainable and resilient energy future,” Chriss added.

One award winner, Columbus, Ohio-based AEP, received the National Key Accounts Award for Outstanding Customer Engagement for the eighth time for providing such multi-site customers with superior service. 

EEI also recognized AEP for engaging corporate customers in regulatory matters and for providing resiliency solutions for corporate customers, and gave AEP National Account Executive Darren Kelsey an individual National Key Accounts Award for Outstanding Customer Engagement.

“It’s a key priority for AEP to build and maintain strong relationships with our customers and provide them with exceptional service, which also helps drive growth in our local economies,” said Peggy Simmons, AEP’s executive vice president of utilities. “We are honored to be recognized by our national accounts customers and the Edison Electric Institute with these prestigious awards.” 

In addition to AEP, the other IOUs recognized by corporate customers for exceeding customer expectations in important business areas are:

• Exelon for the most improved national accounts program.
• Florida Power & Light for providing clean energy solutions for corporate customers.
• PG&E for ease of collaborating on complex projects with corporate customers.
• Southern Company for employing effective, empowered individuals to support national customers.
• Xcel Energy for communicating and aligning its clean energy strategy with corporate customers.

Other account executive award recipients are: Abby White at Dominion Energy; Sabeena Poonamallee at Duke Energy; Lauren Burns at Eversource Energy; Tina Landerville of Florida Power & Light; PG&E’s David Alexander, Eric Doswald, and Alex Feliz; Danielle McCaughan at Puget Sound Energy; and Beth Senkbeil from Southern Company.