Public power utilities' commitment to reliable, affordable, community-focused service is generally, but not always, recognized in higher customer satisfaction compared to other utilities and industries.

Electric Utilities on Par with Wireless Phone Services

The American Customer Satisfaction Index benchmarks how customers like the service and goods they receive across various industries. While the index mostly measures satisfaction among investor-owned utilities, energy utilities rank in the middle of various common service industries, and behind the average for all industries measured.

American Customer Satisfaction Index customer satisfaction benchmarks for major services and industries

IndustryACSI Average, 2024
Federal government69.7
Subscription TV/cable70
Internet service providers71
U.S. Postal Service74
Energy utilities75
Wireless phone service76
Average across all industries77
Fast food79
Banks80
Full service restaurants84

Public Power Usually Outshines

In the J.D. Power U.S. Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, the public power utilities that participated scored on average 25 points higher than IOUs. A public power utility earned the highest score in four of the five regional segments that included public power. SRP had the highest overall score, leading the West Large segment for the 23rd year in a row.

Top ranked public power utilities J.D. Power Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction study

Midwest MidsizeOmaha Public Power District, NEFirst
South MidsizeEPB, TNFirst
West LargeSalt River Project, AZFirst
West MidsizeAnaheim Public Utilities, CAFirst

Bucking the Trend

While the ASCI and J.D. Power reports show a general downward trend in customer satisfaction, public power customers have been showing increased satisfaction with their utility, according to the Public Power Data Source. The biggest areas of increase from 2023 to 2024 were in how customers perceived their utility to be providing good service and value for the cost of electricity and maintaining modern and reliable infrastructure. Customers said public power utilities could improve their communication and customer service to become closer to their "ideal" utility.

Customer satisfaction scores from public power data source, 2022-2024. In 2022, 68.3% of customers reported being satisfied with their utility, 68.0% in 2023, and 72.3% in 2024
Public Power Data Source202220232024
Overall customer satisfaction68.3%68.0%72.3%

Rising levels of customer satisfaction with public power customer service areas

Area202220232024
Providing consistent and reliable electric service to customers73.4%72.7%76.0%
Helpful and knowledgeable staff67.6%65.5%70.0%
Maintaining reliable and modern infrastructure66.3%64.7%69.9%
Communicating with customers67.9%65.3%66.8%
Providing good service and value for the cost of electricity63.6%60.9%65.7%
Community involvement62.8%59.3%63.9%
Offering innovative programs and services61.2%57.4%60.3%

 

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