CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy was recognized for its superior customer service to its large commercial, industrial and government business accounts during the Edison Electric Institute's (EEI) fall National Key Accounts Workshop.
The EEI's 2015 Awards for Outstanding National Key Accounts Customer Service included two categories. Its national key account programs award recognized six companies and the national key account executives category honored six individuals.
The EEI's national key accounts customers voted on the recipients and Duke Energy won in both award categories.
Duke Energy's National Accounts team accepted the company's award, which recognizes Duke Energy's customer service focus and its energy efficiency programs and strategies.
"Receiving the EEI national key account programs award repeatedly is a testament to Duke Energy's customer service focus as a company," said Chris Edge, vice president of large business customers for Duke Energy. "It's part of our corporate culture that translates into our daily interactions with customers – and to be recognized as one of only six national award recipients helps solidify this impact."
Gregory Read, of St. Petersburg, Fla., an account executive with Duke Energy's Large Account Management group, received the individual award for sustained customer service excellence for the second consecutive year.
Read services 76 national account customers that are headquartered outside of Duke Energy's operating territories. He and his colleague, Terry Holt, also a prior winner of this coveted award, assist customers in six states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, Indiana and Ohio.
"This award is a great honor that every EEI member aspires to win," said Read. "It's meaningful because you're nominated by and voted for by your customers, so it shows an appreciation for the relationships we work so hard to build and maintain."
The account executives, along with a team of six customer account specialists who support day-to-day operations for these and other large customers, have implemented model customer service techniques and tactics, such as acknowledging receipt of emails and phone calls by immediately responding and then following up with resolutions to customer concerns.
They also prioritize valuable customer communications through the distribution of a quarterly newsletter and by sending timely storm updates targeted to national account customers' needs.
Read's career with Duke Energy spans 39 years, 13 of which are in his current capacity. He has served in a public-facing role and has been a customer service advocate for Duke Energy since day one.
Duke Energy is a member of EEI, the national association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. EEI's National Key Accounts program provides an opportunity for electric utility account representatives to collaborate with large commercial, industrial and government business customers to develop energy efficiency strategies.
About Duke Energy
Duke Energy is the largest electric power holding company in the United States. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 7.3 million electric customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest, representing a population of approximately 23 million people. Its Commercial Portfolio and International business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.
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SOURCE Duke Energy
