Addressing The Utility Workforce Challenge With A Pipeline Of Opportunities For Youth
By Luis Olivieri, Bridgette McCauley, and Shelton Anderson
With training and development as a high priority for top talent, one nonprofit partners with a utility leader to uplift the next-generation workforce.
The water industry, like many others, is facing an enormous workforce development issue. Some of the most skilled and longest-tenured workers are aging out and leaving a knowledge gap for the incoming workforce. And with the COVID-19 economy pushing some workers into early retirement, it’s never been more timely (or important) for utilities to focus on new and innovative ways to identify and train the next-generation workforce.
NJ American Water Ranks No. 1 in JD Power Customer Satisfaction Study
Company also ranks highest in two of six factors measured including price and customer service On May 19, 2021
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water Company, has received the J.D. Power award for ranking highest in customer satisfaction among large water utilities in the Northeast according to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study.
“This award is truly a testament to our employees’ commitment to delivering exceptional service to our customers,” said Mark McDonough, president, New Jersey American Water. “Our employees are customer-obsessed and even in a pandemic year, they kept customers at the center of everything while continuing to deliver safe and affordable water services to the 2.8 million people we serve.”
Customers in Texas Lose Trust in Water Utilities following February Storm Response
A combination of major regional service interruptions, significantly increased water consumption, higher utility bills and a lack of effective communication during the pandemic have resulted in no change year over year in customer satisfaction with residential water utilities, according to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study,SM released today. Overall customer satisfaction remains at 737 (on a 1,000-point scale) as usage has increased about 6% nationwide, and this year marks the first time that satisfaction has not improved since the study began in 2016.
“Between the massive weather event in Texas and the overall heightened sense of anxiety among consumers who have been spending more time at home and consuming more water, the past year has put local water utilities to the test,” said Andrew Heath, senior director of utilities intelligence at J.D. Power.
Fighting for a seat
Who runs N.J.? It’s still mostly men. Powerful boards lack women, despite Murphy’s pledge for diversity.
Published on May 02, 2021
Some states have laws requiring or encouraging state boards and commissions to have a 50/50 split between men and women. New Jersey is not one of them.
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At her first meeting as a new commissioner of the state Sports and Exposition Authority, Karen Kessler said officials handed her a gift.
It was a men’s necktie.
“What am I supposed to with this?” Kessler recalls saying.
The neckties, featuring the logo of the Sports and Exposition Authority, were given to every member of the powerful board. At the time, it never occurred to anyone that a woman might be a voting member of the board at the public agency that oversees sports arenas and racetracks.