Utilities Are People

Well...here I am again, getting ready for another industry conference. Luckily, my industry, the utility industry, is filled with genuinely good people and I feel lucky to have developed solid friendships with peers across the country. Yet, these people get stomped on regularly by the press and customers. I can tell you from experience that they don't deserve it.

It is amazing to me how little people know about how their power is delivered. They have no clue about the people required to build and run a power plant (coal or renewable), maintain the transmission system to get electricity and gas to your house, and then help you use it safely and efficiently. Most people only see the big company name, the CEO's salary, and their bill...and that is enough for them. The only problem is that it isn't enough, because it isn't the reality.

Most of the people who work at utilities live where they work, work hard for their paycheck (which, by the way isn't much differnet than yours), and do the best they can to make ends meet for their families. Sound familiar? Many of the people I know regularly work nights and weekends to make sure the power stays on in your house and customers are informed about what is going on, what programs and services are available to them, etc.... Utilities aren't perfect, but don't forget that they are made up of people....not villains trying to screw you out of your hard earned money, but normal people like your neighbor, your brother, your spouse. Whether people like it or not, utilities are made up of people trying to keep the lights on in their own homes...just like you and me.

I will be writing more about this in the coming months.