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Gulf Power, Southern Company tops in customer satisfaction
PRNewswire
NYSE: SO
PENSACOLA, Fla. - July 3, 2007 - Gulf Power Company and the other Southern Company utilities have been rated highest in customer satisfaction among all electric utilities in the nation by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. This is the eighth consecutive year Gulf Power and Southern Company have earned this honor. The American Customer Satisfaction Index is based on interviews with residential customers across a number of industries including the energy industry and electric utilities. Companies are ranked based on customer responses in six key areas: perceived quality, customer expectations, perceived value, customer satisfaction, customer complaints and customer loyalty. "Customer satisfaction is a key focus for our employees," said John Hutchinson, Gulf Power's general manager of Public Affairs. "To be rated tops in the industry for this many years by our customers is quite an honor and a recognition we very much appreciate." Southern Company scored 82 out of a possible 100, putting it on top of the electric utilities, and well above the industry average of 73. "The challenge for us now is to stay on top," Hutchinson said. "Our pledge to our customers is that we will continue to work hard every day to earn their confidence." Hutchinson cited the many customer programs and energy saving options Gulf Power offers as one of the reasons for high customer satisfaction. "We offer multiple ways customers can pay their bill – including on line. We offer free Energy Audits for homes and businesses; we have surge protection options, energy monitoring programs for large commercial and industrial customers and our Good Cents Select program that helps customers save energy and money. All of these options, plus good old-fashioned customer service, are valuable to the customer." The ACSI is produced in partnership by the University of Michigan Business School, American Society for Quality (ASQ), and the international consulting firm, Claes FornelI International (CFI Group). ### Gulf Power Media Contacts: |