Saluting Our Customers: How Utilities and Cities are Responding to COVID-19

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Our utility customers continue to keep the lights on, the water running, and gas services safely connected as the world faces a global pandemic. They are not only providing critical services but giving back and helping those in need. In this blog series, we recognize the honorable actions utilities are taking to support their communities during this exceptional time.

ComEd
ComEd provides electric service to more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois and is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation. The Exelon Foundation, along with ComEd and Exelon Generation, recently announced a $2 million donation to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund to help residents impacted by the pandemic. Donations will be used to assist those most in need with crucial resources, including emergency food and basic supplies, interim housing and shelter, primary health care services, financial assistance and support for children and other vulnerable populations. To ensure reliable power, ComEd helped to transform the McCormick Place convention center into an alternate care facility for COVID-19 patients. In addition to supporting relief organizations, ComEd will suspend all service disconnections and late payment charges through at least June 1.

Florida Power & Light
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) provides electricity to more than 5 million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million people across the state of Florida. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, FPL issued a one-time decrease of residential customer bills by nearly 25%. To further support the community, FPL, its fellow NextEra Energy companies and employees have also committed nearly $2.75 million in COVID-19 emergency assistance funds that will be distributed directly to those in need and to partner organizations working on the frontlines of the crisis to provide critical support. The utility is also suspending electrical disconnections, providing payment extensions and waiving certain late payment fees for customers.

San Diego Gas & Electric
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is a regulated public utility that provides energy service to 3.6 million people through San Diego and southern Orange County. In response to the coronavirus outbreak, SDG&E joined other regional partners to launch the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund. The fund will quickly deploy resources into the community to support programs and organizations supporting impacted populations, particularly those that are disproportionately affected by the global pandemic. As an additional step to help customers, SDG&E will not shut off service to those with unpaid bills until further notice.

Stay tuned as we share additional inspiring stories of how our utility customers are promoting health, safety and hope during this challenging time. To read the first blog in this series, click here. Part three in our series can be read here.

ByMark de Vere White

Senior Vice President of Customer and Market Experience

With nearly 30 years of experience, Mark de Vere White has dedicated his career to working with utility and Fortune 1000 customers to deliver value, success and profitable growth. He has deep experience in sales, product marketing, go-to-market strategy and profitable general management of ongoing business operations. As Itron’s senior vice president of Customer and Market Experience (CME), Mark is responsible for leading Itron’s sales, marketing, channel management, business development, customer support and customer success activities across the full company portfolio. Previously, Mark was president of Itron’s Electricity business line where he and his team grew revenues from $600 million to over $1 billion a year and EBITDA performance from break even to 12.5% in just over three years. Prior to joining Itron, Mark oversaw consulting, support, hosting and account management at Silicon Energy. Before Silicon Energy, Mark was one of the first employees at market-leading CRM software provider Kana, where he held executive positions overseeing account management, consulting and support teams. Mark started his career in marketing, consulting and direct marketing in New York City. Mark received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating Summa Cum Laude/Phi Beta Kappa.

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Saluting Our Customers: How Utilities and Cities are Responding to COVID-19 – Part Two

ByMark de Vere White