For the third time, Newsweek has partnered with Statista to produce a ranking of the most trustworthy companies in the United States. The independent survey of approximately 25,000 Americans ranked companies across 23 industries, including energy and utilities.
While trust is often considered the most important dynamic between customers and the companies they do business with, the value of that trust may be even more relevant in light of the increasing “trust gap” documented by a PwC survey earlier this year. It reported that while 90% of executives believe customers highly trust their companies, only 30% of customers report they actually do, a difference that’s 3 percentage points more than the previous survey.
According to BGE, which is ranked eighth among energy and utility companies, its ranking is gratifying because it recognizes the utility’s focus on customers and community.
“Whether it’s interacting with them directly about their account, our long-term infrastructure planning or the decisions we make on how to pursue a decarbonized future, we always consider how it will impact our customers,” Carim Khouzami, BGE’s president and CEO, told American Gas. “This ranking shows we are on the right path, but we also know that we have to keep working hard to keep that trust.”
Keeping that trust, Khouzami said, means having a commitment to reliability that goes beyond its gas and electric systems. “We also show up in the community,” he said. “We say we are part of the community, but we show this by working with nonprofit partners to create jobs, increase opportunities for students and care for our customers.”
For Brian Weisker, senior vice president and president of natural gas business at Duke Energy, which ranked 11th among energy and utility companies, being included on the list highlights the positive impact the company strives to make on the communities it serves.
“To have that commitment recognized by our customers is an honor,” Weisker said. “It’s a recognition that reflects the talent and dedication of our extraordinary employees, who make it possible to deliver for our customers and serve as a leader among our peer utilities nationwide.”
The full list, including the energy and utilities section, can be found at www.newsweek.com/rankings/most-trustworthy-companies-america-2024.