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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In most jobs, the occupational hazards are completely within the employee’s control. Those tasked with lifting heavy objects can wear a back brace or practice proper form. People who spend hours at a keyboard can take periodic breaks and stretch for mobility and joint health. But for utility field technicians, the great outdoors is the great unknown. Given their roles and responsibilities, it’s possible for field technicians to come in contact with poisonous plants and dangerous animals on any given day. Anyone working outside knows that outdoor protection is key to avoiding hazards such as bug bites and stings. In an effort to assist your field technicians with that kind of awareness, we’ve put together a list of five safety tips to keep in mind when working outdoors.

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By now, the rapid aging of the current utility infrastructure in the United States is well-documented. Many have questioned the long-term operability of critical infrastructure mainstays like the power grid, noting how much of it has reached or exceeded its presumed lifespan.

The natural inclination is to want to overhaul and completely replace infrastructure, but various factors make that essentially impossible. In addition to the overwhelming cost, the time it would take to complete such a task is astounding. To put this into context, it would take more than 200 years to complete a replacement of every natural gas pipe in the country. Though there’s no one right solution to the problem of aging infrastructure, but the most realistic approach is an unwavering commitment to sound maintenance.

The best way to extend the life of vital assets and infrastructure is to keep them in the best possible condition. And the best way to keep something in an optimal condition is to practice proactive maintenance.

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A customer’s journey encompasses much more than the exchange of money for goods or services. It’s about filling needs, solving problems, and completing tasks. But the reality is that each customer’s journey is subject to hiccups along the way. A fact that underscores the importance of a commitment to offering superior customer service.

Related: Utility Customer Satisfaction Improves With Tech

In recent years, one of the traits most synonymous with superior customer service has been empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand or feel what someone else is experiencing. This social skill has become a must-have on customer service agent job descriptions as businesses work to meet heightened customer expectations. As we explore customer empathy for better customer service interactions, here are some tips to relay that can help agents better connect with customers.

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