CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – July 12, 2021 – For a third year in a row, Chattanooga Gas has been recognized as one of the most trusted utilities in the nation in a leading study of utility industry brand and business customer engagement released by Escalent, a top human behavior and analytics advisory firm.
Chattanooga Gas was named among the top 24 natural gas and electric companies on Escalent's 2021 Trusted Business Partner list, which recognized utilities that scored highest nationally in brand trust on the Cogent Syndicated Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Business study. Among natural gas providers, Chattanooga Gas ranked sixth nationally in business customer brand trust benchmark scoring by more than 15,600 business customers surveyed from the 79 largest utilities across the U.S.
“Our customers are at the center of everything we do, and it’s an honor to have our team’s efforts to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy get recognized,” said Pedro Cherry, president and CEO of Chattanooga Gas. “This award reflects not only the company’s commitment to investing in infrastructure to meet the growing energy needs of the Chattanooga area, but also our commitment to helping our customers and neighbors during the pandemic.”
Escalent noted in the study that business customers trust their utility companies significantly more after energy companies, including Chattanooga Gas, stepped in to support local economies and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their energy provider, businesses said, is also a trusted adviser and partner in their success.
“Since 2011, access to natural gas has helped to create and support more than 18,000 jobs in the Chattanooga area,” said Cherry, citing a Consumer Energy Alliance report. “When the pandemic hit, we knew we needed to act fast to help local businesses endure. We developed a COVID-19 business resource center to help them navigate resources available from our company, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Department of the Treasury and other organizations.”
Escalent's study explores utility relationships with business customers through a customer experience "Balanced Scorecard" approach. The study evaluates utilities on customer focus, community support, communications effectiveness, reliable quality, company reputation, customer advocacy and environmental dedication.
For more information about Chattanooga Gas, visit chattanoogagas.com.
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Chattanooga Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Chattanooga Gas provides retail natural gas sales and transportation services to approximately 68,000 customers in Hamilton and Bradley counties in southeast Tennessee. The Chattanooga Gas service area includes the communities of Chattanooga, Cleveland, Red Bank, East Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain. For more information, visit chattanoogagas.com.
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.3 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with approximately 666,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.
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Media Contact
Mekka Parish
Mobile: 404-387-8067 | msparish@southernco.com