SMECO is one of only 50 companies in the U.S. to receive this distinction
HUGHESVILLE, Md.—Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) was recognized at the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Roundtable in Orlando, Florida, on March 14, 2012, as a 2012 Customer Service Champion. SMECO was one of only 50 companies to have earned this distinction this year.
To qualify for inclusion on this elite list, companies must not only excel within their own industry, but also must stand out among leading brands in 20 major industries evaluated by J.D. Power. The five factors measured included People, Presentation, Process, Product, and Price.
To identify the 2012 Customer Service Champions, J.D. Power evaluated more than 800 brands. The 2012 Champions were identified based on customer feedback, opinions, and perceptions gathered primarily from J.D. Power and Associates syndicated research in 2011. This group of 50 represents the highest-performing U.S. companies that deliver service excellence, both within their respective industry and across all industries measured.
"We are honored to receive this distinction and to be included in this elite group of U.S. companies. We are committed to customer satisfaction, and receiving this recognition from J.D. Power is an external confirmation of our efforts," commented Austin J. Slater, Jr., SMECO president and CEO. He added, "As a co-op, customer service is a key element of our corporate values, and our employees embody those values."
In 2011, SMECO was recognized by J.D. Power for ranking highest for a fourth consecutive year in the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study in the East region midsize utility segment. The study measures customer satisfaction with electric utility companies by examining six key factors: power quality and reliability; price; billing and payment; corporate citizenship; communications; and customer service.
Source: SMECO