There are some inherent risks that come with serving as a field technician for a utility company. One of the worst potential risks is heat and extreme summer temperatures. According to Ready.gov, about 175 Americans die each year from exposure to extreme heat. While that number may not seem like a lot, it  doesn’t account for the countless others who survive a heat stroke. Or those that endure the uncomfortable symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat cramps. Fortunately for people who spend hours outside each day, there are a variety of preventive things that can be done to reduce the risks. To help keep your staff safe, we encourage you to share these five tips for staying safe in the summer heat.

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Anyone who has spent time in the utility industry understands smart technology’s impact on processes and operations. In the technology realm, “smart” is an acronym for “Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology” (SMART). Smart tech is known for driving innovation and ease for its users.

Widely considered the foundation of smart technology for utilities, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) has been steadily gaining momentum for years. In fact, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), there were nearly 103 million electric utility AMI installations as of 2020. These numbers don’t account for statistics from the last two years, nor those related to natural gas or water meters, which the EIA does not publish. So, why push for this advanced technology? Today, we’ll review some of the top advantages and why so many utilities are making the move to AMI meter technology.

Related: Utility Customer Satisfaction Improves With Tech

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For residents in coastal states like Florida, Texas, and Louisiana (and even some farther up the Eastern seaboard) June 1 is a date that’s often circled on the calendar. Why June 1? It’s the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. While the thought of living through hurricane season can be scary, preparation is the best way to reduce risk.

Putting emphasis on hurricane season safety and preparation is imperative with peak hurricane season around the corner. The time is now to focus on safety and awareness. If your utility could use a refresher stormy weather preparation, you might consider incorporating a few of the tips we’ve included below. (more…)

It’s not every day that five simple words can save a life. But as the summer storms start to roll in, these five just might: When thunder roars, go indoors! This catchy slogan is used to bring awareness to the dangers of lightning, which is an often-overlooked weather-related occurrence. Because hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding get the bulk of the headlines, few people realize that the U.S. has averaged nearly 50 reported lightning fatalities each year over the past 30+ years. To complicate matters further, about 10% of people struck by lightning are killed. Meaning hundreds of others are left with debilitating injuries.

Though the statistics sound scary, there are plenty of ways to protect yourself and your employees from the 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes that occur across the country each year. We’ve put together a few tips that we think do the best job of educating utility workers about the dangers of lightning strikes. (more…)

Imagine being a utility technician and showing up at a job site, ready and willing to tackle that day’s new task. Let’s say you work for a gas utility, and your next assignment is to install a series of pipes.  As you’re working, you notice that the number of pipes stacked near you won’t be enough to complete the job. Your suspicion is confirmed when your supply runs dry halfway through. You could borrow inventory from a co-worker, but they would end up shorthanded as well. So, what do you do?

While that example is obviously an oversimplification, it illustrates precisely what can happen on the job site when material management is not adequately handled. Today, we’ll explore the concept of material management. We’ll dig into the function and explain how Utility Partners of America (UPA) can ensure a smooth material management process for your utility.

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The number of electric vehicles (EV) purchases has steadily risen, led by growing interest in environmentally-conscious consumerism. In fact, more than 10 million EVs are on the road today, signifying a good start toward the vaunted “Net Zero Emissions” proposal. EVs have become a popular choice for commercial fleets, as well.

As part of the EV100 initiative, some of the biggest companies in the world have committed to more than 5.5 million EVs by the end of 2030. There are commitments for more than 2 million corporate and leased vehicles from U.S.-based EV100 companies alone. 32,000 are already in operation. With an emphasis on transitioning, the importance of safely using and charging these automobiles can’t be understated. Here’s a quick look at some of the dos and don’ts of safe EV charging.

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Can you picture customer service without telephones? This technology was invented in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell and certainly made it easier for customers to communicate with businesses. Before the telephone, the only way to contact a business was to physically visit and meet with staff or to send a letter or other form of post. Of course, it’s far easier to ignore a letter sent from an irritated customer far away. The telephone (eventually) is what empowered the customer to reach the businesses they dealt with regardless of location and time.

In the decades since, customer service has developed through similar technological milestones. This evolution includes switchboards, rotary dial phones, call centers, interactive voice response systems, email, social media, and AI-supported customer interactions. However, the biggest shift in customer service might not be technology at all. Rather, it’s the general concept of customer service as a two-way conversation.

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“Better safe than sorry” has never meant more than it does when you’re working with dangerous equipment and materials. For a lot of utility workers, that’s a daily occurrence. Fortunately, these workers have personal protective equipment (PPE) on their side. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specific requirements for PPE. For example, employers must identify and control physical and health hazards and provide employees with proper PPE for the job. But having PPE on hand is only half the equation. Today, we’ll discuss why PPE inspections are so essential and what should go into a PPE inspection policy.

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While we’re all familiar with the most commonly cited ramifications of COVID-19, one that flies under the radar is the increased consumption of energy. As lock-down regulations swept the country, requiring people to spend more time at home, utilities saw a huge increase in energy usage. Even before the height of the pandemic, some utilities felt challenged to keep up with customer demand. This was especially true in areas where construction booms caused rapid swells in population. Many utilities have found that utilizing third-party contractors can be an effective way to bridge the gap.

Third-party contractors temporarily extend the company’s workforce and can help cover a wider regional footprint. But, how does a utility ensure that contractors follow organizational processes and maintain the utility’s reputation? If your utility is considering doing this, you’ll want to read our three tips for how to best partner with third-party contractors.

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When utility employees go to work every day, they know what they’ve signed up for. It’s a physical job, with tangible achievements at the end of the day. It can also be a dangerous job, especially when electricity is involved. In fact, more than 90% of electrical fatalities among U.S. workers occur because of electrical shock. Despite the risks, utility workers still hold the power when it comes to safety from electrical shock. If you or a technician on your team needs a refresher, check out our top tips for electrical shock prevention below.

Related: Stay Safe from Lightning This Summer with These Top Tips

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