Utilities outrate governments on Sandy response
A new study from J.D. Power and Associates reports that electric utilities were more effective and responsive before, during, and after Superstorm Sandy than local and federal governments.
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Overall Responsiveness to the Hurricane Sandy Emergency. View the full-size image. (PRNewsFoto/J.D. Power and Associates) |
J.D. Power asked nearly 6,000 customers in 31 utility service territories impacted by Sandy, regarding utility preparedness, communications effectiveness and recovery support. Of all the customers surveyed, 43 percent experienced a power outage lasting 24 hours or more. The average was 48 hours.
Overall, emergency responsiveness of utilities was rates 611 on a 1000 point scale. State governments rated 610, local governments 598, and the federal government received a rating of 539.
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"Overall, the federal government does not receive high ratings from customers impacted by Hurricane Sandy. For utilities and local and state governments, the results are more mixed, with some receiving high ratings for their effectiveness of handling of the emergency and a few receiving low ratings," said John Hazen, senior director of the energy utility practice at J.D. Power and Associates.
Among customers with more extensive outages, three electric utilities performed particularly well in the study: Atlantic City Electric, Central Hudson Gas & Electric and PPL Electric Utilities.
As a preventive measure against storm-related power outages, 66 percent believe that power lines should be buried underground. However, only 37 percent of willing to pay more through rate increases for said power lines to be buried. Among customers willing pay, $12 per month is the average acceptable bill increase.