Category Archives: events

This year’s AGA/EEI Customer Service Conference and Exposition was the first time we connected the conference with the Low-Income/At-Risk Customers Best Practices Workshop.  With the recent reduction in LIHEAP funding, care for low-income customers is a front-of-mind issue and the topic was woven through much of the conference content.

AGA Chairman and President and CEO of AGL Resources, John Somerhalder and President and CEO of Ameren Missouri, Warner Baxter addressed conference attendees giving a CEO perspective of customer service in the utility industry.

In addition to low-income, other topics explored in the general session context were energy efficiency, customer satisfaction, smart grid, energy theft and social media.  Each of these are of significant concern to today’s utility customer service leaders.  Many of these topics were explored in greater detail in the breakout sessions. Breakout tracks included: Call Centers, Credit and Collections, Billing and Payment Processing, Commercial and Industrial Account Management, Meter Reading, Field Service, Revenue Protection and Low-Income/At-Risk Customers.

Industry partners filled nearly 60 booths in the exhibit hall and shared products and services complementing utility customer service with attendees.  Networking sessions provided opportunities for attendees to connect with both colleagues in other companies and industry partners.  Many existing friendships were strengthened and many new networking connections were developed.  At the Tuesday Evening Social at Raglan Road Irish Pub our own Angelo Shaw from Laclede Gas Company played his sax with the band on several numbers and brought the house down! You can see pictures from the conference below. We posted even more to our Flickr stream.

We are looking forward to continuing the success with this year’s conference next year at the 2012 AGA/EEI Customer Service Conference and Exposition and Low-Income/At-Risk Customers Best Practices Workshop at the Omni Fort Worth in Fort Worth Texas April 30, 2012 through May 3, 2012.  Keep an eye on the AGA website for more information.

This week, John Somerhalder, chairman of the American Gas Association (AGA) and chairman, president and CEO of AGL Resources, met with the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA) to discuss the outlook for natural gas demand and supply.  He also addressed some key issues regarding investment in the natural gas utility sector.

Dave Parker, who is retiring as president and CEO of AGA, also provided a political update, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges of the 112^th Congress.

Somerhalder’s speech to the NYSSA officially kicks off his year as AGA chairman and gave the many analysts who cover the utility and natural gas space an opportunity to learn more about the state of the industry and his priorities for 2011.

Noting that the natural gas supply picture has never been brighter, he stated that, “currently, we have about 100 years of natural gas supply.”  Somerhalder also said that this bright picture is reflected in the stable affordable prices that natural gas customers currently are enjoying.

Somerhalder told an audience of more than 100 analysts and industry executives that natural gas utilities continue to be a solid investment opportunity.

“Natural gas utilities have a consistent long-term track record of creating shareholder value,” he said. “They focus on fundamentals; they have healthy balance sheets and positive earnings trends. And thanks to the abundant supply of natural gas, utilities are now focusing on growing demand.”

Somerhalder added that the recent two-year extension of the 15-percent dividend tax rates will make dividend-paying companies such as natural utilities an even more attractive investment.

“We are especially pleased with this victory, which AGA worked very hard to achieve,” he told the audience.

Somerhalder also focused on demand growth by pointing out that at a time when America’s domestic supply of natural gas is at an all time high, it is critical for our industry to explore new market opportunities based on the clear price and environmental and energy efficiency advantages of the direct use of natural gas.

Leading AGA’s legislative and regulatory priorities for 2011 is pipeline safety,AGA is working with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on reauthorization of an effective, flexible and cost-effective Pipeline Safety Act.  AGA is also working with DOT and state regulators on implementing a sound Distribution Integrity Management Program.

Touching on the transportation market, an especially attractive demand growth opportunity, he said that displacing oil with domestically abundant natural gas by expanding our use of natural gas vehicles can save money, reduce green house gas emissions and decrease our dependence on foreign oil.

“The bottom line is that America needs clean and abundant energy and natural gas utilities can meet that need. With all that natural gas has to offer, this is an exciting time for the industry and I am thrilled to capitalize on the many opportunities we have before us to provide safe, reliable and clean energy solutions to our customers.”