The Best Electric Utilities Across America, According to Customers

By and large, Americans are not charged up over the performance of their utility companies.

Overall satisfaction among electric utility residential customers has plunged 18 points to 713 on a 1,000-point scale from a year prior, according to J.D. Power’s latest annual Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study.

It was the third straight year that satisfaction has fallen, and a big factor in that unhappiness appears to be climbing utility costs.

The average electric bill is up $178 per month, and that caused a 33-point decline in customer satisfaction with utility pricing.

Still, some utilities fared better than average. These are the providers that scored best, according to J.D. Power.

The East

In the East, the average overall customer satisfaction score is 704 among large electric utilities and 687 among midsize ones.

The top-ranked large electric utilities, and their customer satisfaction scores, are:

• PSE&G: 759 out of 1,000 points
• PECO: 737
• Con Edison: 732
• BGE: 727
• Pepco: 722
• Duquesne Light: 717
• Jersey Central Power & Light: 716
• PPL Electric Utilities: 715

The lowest-ranked large utility in the region is Central Maine Power (575).

The top-ranked midsize electric utilities, and their scores, are:

• Delmarva Power: 736
• Atlantic City Electric: 722
• Green Mountain Power: 718
• Penn Power: 712
• Potomac Edison: 707
• Mon Power: 706
• Orange & Rockland: 692
• United Illuminating: 690

The worst-ranked midsize utility in the region is Versant Power (591).

The Midwest

In the Midwest, the average overall customer satisfaction score is 718 among large electric utilities and 706 among midsize ones.

The top-ranked large electric utilities, and their customer satisfaction scores, are:

• MidAmerican Energy: 754
• ComEd: 732
• Ameren Missouri: 730
• Xcel Energy: 730
• Indiana Michigan Power: 728
• Duke Energy: 726

The lowest-ranked large utility in the region is The Illuminating Company (693).

The top-ranked midsize electric utilities, and their scores, are:

• WPS: 746
• Lincoln Electric System: 745
• Omaha Public Power District: 731
• Kentucky Utilities: 729
• Otter Tail Power Co.: 722
• Madison Gas & Electric: 719
• Minnesota Power: 717
• Toledo Edison: 707
• Louisville Gas & Electric: 706

The worst-ranked midsize utility in the region is CenterPoint Energy (598).

The South

In the South, the average overall customer satisfaction score is 731 among large electric utilities and 703 among midsize ones.

The top-ranked large electric utilities, and their customer satisfaction scores, are:

• Georgia Power: 769
• Duke Energy Carolinas: 745
• Duke Energy Progress: 744
• Florida Power & Light: 737
• Tampa Electric: 735
• Alabama Power: 732

The lowest-ranked large utility in the region is Entergy Louisiana (678).

The top-ranked midsize electric utilities, and their scores, are:

• EPB: 784
• Santee Cooper: 767
• Mississippi Power: 755
• OUC: 743
• Entergy Mississippi: 739
• JEA: 723
• Public Service Co. of Oklahoma: 710
• Entergy Texas: 709
• Knoxville Utilities Board: 706
• City of Tallahassee: 704
• SWEPCO: 703

The worst-ranked midsize utility in the region is Entergy New Orleans (622).

The West

In the West, the average overall customer satisfaction score is 700 among large electric utilities and 714 among midsize ones.

The top-ranked large electric utilities, and their customer satisfaction scores, are:

• SRP: 796
• SMUD: 743
• Rocky Mountain Power: 736
• APS: 725
• Portland General Electric: 722
• Pacific Power: 720
• Puget Sound Energy: 719
• L.A. Department of Water & Power: 709
• NV Energy: 706
• Southern California Edison: 702

The lowest-ranked large utility in the region is Pacific Gas and Electric (661).

The top-ranked midsize electric utilities, and their scores, are:

• Clark Public Utilities: 789
• Anaheim Public Utilities: 750
• Seattle City Light: 743
• Snohomish County PUD: 738
• Idaho Power: 730
• Avista: 726
• Imperial Irrigation District: 722
• Tucson Electric Power: 722
• Tacoma Power: 717

The worst-ranked midsize utility in the region is Black Hills Energy (661).