GUC’s Public Information Office (Pub Info) received two 2022 Excellence in Public Power Communications awards from the American Public Power Association (APPA) for work done in 2021.  The awards were in the Video and Social Media categories. This is the sixth time GUC has won an award for website and/or social media efforts, and the fourth award for video.  

GUC was one of 49 utilities that took home an award from this year’s APPA Customer Connections Conference. Awards were given to those who showed ingenuity and creativity in telling their stories through outstanding copy, design, graphics, social media engagement, and video.  

Video Award
In the weeks leading up to Public Power Week 2021, Greenville Utilities sent 17 Electric and Fleet employees to aid in Louisiana’s restoration efforts following Hurricane Ida. With Public Power Week happening around the time of their return, Pub Info staff felt it was a good time to promote the way public power agencies come together and help each other in times of greatest need through mutual aid. 

The winning video is one of four in a series, and focuses on one of our lineworkers, Stanley Roberson, and his time spent in Houma, Louisiana. The trip to Houma was one of Stanley’s first mutual aid trips and he discusses how it felt helping those residents. You can check it out here:

Social Media Award
Since 2014, Pub Info has managed three GUC Google accounts that include our Main Office, our Branch Office, and our Wastewater Treatment Plant. Over the past two years, the team has increased its Google focus on our two customer-facing locations, the Main Office and the Branch Office, since these two accounts receive the most reviews and direct messages.  

Since implementing a Google strategic plan, GUC’s average Google review rating has increased by at least one star on both accounts. The APPA award recognizes GUC for the efforts in boosting these two accounts with posts, photos, and communications designed to build trust with customers on the Google platform.  

“I am proud of our team for receiving this recognition,” said Public Information Officer / Communications Manager Steve Hawley. “We have a very talented team of people who work hard to clearly and creatively communicate with our customers and community, and these recognitions are a testament to what they do every day for GUC.”