The VERY First Step to Writing a Better Annual Report
Successful writers start by thinking about their audience. Stephen King doesn’t write for the same audience that reads Jodi Picoult or Philippa Gregory. That’s not a dis on any of those oft-published, fabulously successful fiction writers. But it is a restatement of the First Commandment of Writing: Know thy audience!
Utility Community Relations: Say “Hello” to the People (AKA “Customers”) Who Pay Your Salary
New technologies typically are two-edged swords that have a large impact — positive and negative — on people, societies, and workplaces. We are still a long way from even being able to assess the costs and benefits of AI systems like ChatGPT.
Sky-High Energy Bills: Utilities Need New Actions and a New Narrative
Do you remember this painting? Prints of it have adorned college dorm rooms for decades. It’s Salvador Dali’s “Persistence of Memory.” I wasn’t an Art History major, so I’m not sure exactly what the melting clocks are supposed to signify. But the fact I remember it decades after I took it off my own dorm wall attests to the truth of the painting’s title at least.
How to Keep Your Utility Brand from Becoming Toxic
Whether your company delivers electricity or natural gas, your customers’ bills have shot up, which damages your utility’s brand. Analytically, we all understand why bills have shot up: Natural gas costs have skyrocketed. Colder weather has driven up customer usage. Inflation. Supply chain. The costs of building out or replacing your infrastructure. Heck, even water […]
A Few Thoughts on Fear, Gas Stoves, and Freedom
“Are Your Gas Appliances Killing You?” That’s the way I began a piece of marketing collateral I wrote, well, back in the waning years of the 20th century. Back then, I worked in marketing for an electric utility, Salt River Project, and we were having our lunch eaten by a natural gas utility, Southwest Gas, […]
2023 Resolutions: Lose Weight, Exercise More, Ban Buzzwords
“If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance,” goes the old saying, “baffle them with bulls***.” A scan of almost any business communication — printed material, email, job descriptions, even social media — shows an undue reliance on buzzwords, AKA bulls***. Photo Credit: LinkedIn People use buzzwords to sound important, blur meaning, or simply navigate a […]
Community Relations, Rate Case Communications and Women’s Career Advancement: EEC’s Best-Read Content of 2022
Yet another tumultuous year is coming to a close. Some of us are swapping our sweatpants for dress pants as we return to the office. Costs are up, stress is off the charts, and “me” time seems like a quaint relic of a much simpler time. I know 2022 has been a difficult year for […]
Rate Case Communications: Why This Time It’s Different
Natural gas prices are up sharply. Coal prices are also up. The long-term declines in costs to build renewable energy seem to have paused. Skilled craft labor is in short supply. Supply chain bottlenecks persist. Transformers have a three-year wait time. All of that means it’s time to activate your rate case communications plan, because […]
Media Relations 202: Have a Good Story
In a previous blog post, I drew on some recent work as a contract reporter to share two tips to help utility media relations representatives win better coverage by the news media: diligently answering messages left by the news media and making it extremely easy for reporters to find you. Those tips were so elementary […]
Public Speaking: 6 Tips, 6 Sins and 1 Golden Rule
I recently attended several in-person energy conferences, where I was able to see the best and worst of public speaking. Perhaps that’s been your experience as well? Recognizing that it’s easier to talk about giving a great speech than it is to deliver one, I have a few thoughts. I prefer to start at a […]
