PEABODY – Peabody Municipal Light Plant (PLMP) celebrates its 130th year serving local customers with a survey intended to gauge customer satisfaction and concerns.
Working with survey firm GreatBlue Research, the local electricity provider crafted the survey so customers can fill it out online in about seven minutes.
Customers who do not have access to a computer may request a phone survey by calling the PLMP community relations department at 978-573-1150.
“We serve the public with a necessary product and we don’t want people to think we take them for granted. The answers to the survey will help us identify and address any challenges and opportunities,” said PLMP Manager Charles J. Orphanos.
PLMP is unveiling the survey in the wake of a slight rate decrease in 2020, which resulted in savings for residential and small commercial customers.
The typical residential customer’s bill will decrease by 1.5 percent, from $50.47 to $49.70 for a 500-kWh monthly usage.
A commercial customer who uses 2,000 kWh per month will see their bill decrease by 1.6 percent, from $237.99 to $234.20. Industrial customers will see a slight increase of 0.6 percent.
Rates were reduced across all classes earlier in 2020, with rates for residential customers decreasing by 5 percent, giving a ratepayer with monthly usage of 500 kWh a bill that is below $50.
Community-owned and not-for-profit PLMP has 60 employees serving more than 26,000 accounts, balanced between residential, business and commercial accounts in Peabody and South Lynnfield.
“PMLP offers some of the lowest rates in Massachusetts, and works hard to maintain a very low outage rate. Having employees who live and work in the community, and are familiar with the local distribution system, contributes to a faster restoration time,” PMLP said in a statement describing the utility.
PMLP is committed to supporting state and regional public policy goals to reduce carbon emissions under the Global Warming Solutions Act. The light plant’s power portfolio includes carbon-free generation, which consists of wind, nuclear, hydro and solar.
The survey consists of 23 questions that cover customer satisfaction, priorities for the utility, COVID-19 response and interest in new energy saving initiatives. PMLP will gauge interest in “connected homes” services, as well as how customers like to receive information from the utility.
The address to complete the survey is https://tinyurl.com/PMLP2021. This address will be available on the PMLP website and promoted on social media.
