Monday, September 8, 2008
Thank You Bruce - CoServ Customer Service
Through communication with Bruce this morning, an arrangment was made to work out our situation. THANK YOU! Bruce explained the changes with billing at Coserv and he allowed us to make arrangement to pay. Thanks to his and Kathyrn's work, our problem is solved.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
CoServ Customer Service DeReg April 2008 Article
http://www.coservelectric.com/about_coserv/hotTopic_article.aspx?id=90
Hot Topic
Understanding your electric bill
Posted on: 4-17-2008 You may know a coworker or friend who lives in a neighborhood that offers them a choice of electric providers. And, you may have asked the question, “Would my bill be lower IF I had choice?” Your member - elected board of directors discusses this topic regularly and since they live in the CoServ service area (in your neighborhoods) they ask themselves the very same question. The answer, however, is very complex …. And may surprise you.
Our surveys have consistently shown that price IS the most important factor in customer satisfaction, and CoServ is committed to providing rate stability for our members. We constantly monitor market conditions and the competition to ensure that our business decisions support rate consistency. When considering the idea of providing choice (that means “opting in” to deregulation), your board and senior management have a responsibility to do so only if it is in our members' best interest.
If, through the careful decision - making process, the CoServ board were to decide to opt in, the move would require a large financial outlay. Meeting regulatory requirements could cost millions of dollars, and if the board made the decision to enter the deregulated market, it’s important to understand the decision IS irrevocable. We must be absolutely sure the decision will result in low rates and reliable service long - term.
I also believe there may be confusion over what “choice” really means to a consumer. Because CoServ owns, operates and maintains the infrastructure serving your homes and businesses, it’s important to understand that we serve as your “wires company” as well as your power provider. IF CoServ were to offer choice by opting in to the deregulated Texas market, you would indeed be able to decide who “sells” you electricity, but CoServ would continue to “deliver” your power. As a result, a portion of your monthly bill would be paid to CoServ to cover delivery costs. With separate companies charging for delivery of electricity and for electricity itself, it’s tough to determine IF offering choice would actually lower your rates in the long - term. Again, IF you had choice in your neighborhood, you would be able to select the provider who “sells” you electricity. However, these Retail Electric Providers (called REPs) buy their power from a small handful of wholesale power generators who hold market and pricing dominance in Texas. This control over power generation causes pricing to be non - competitive, and we believe it IS one reason that deregulation has not shown positive results. Between 2002 and 2006, electricity rates increased 57 percent in the deregulated Texas market (per the Energy Information Administration) compared to 23 percent in regulated states. And, a number of states that deregulated their electricity markets have actually suspended the practice. Given this uncertainty and dysfunction in the deregulated market, we are hesitant to change the structure of our business and devote significant resources to an idea that doesn’t appear to effectively control costs and rates for the long run. One thing IS certain - being a member of CoServ Electric entitles you to receive power as close to cost as possible. We are owned BY those we serve, and we’ve been earning our members’ trust for more than 70 years. Today and for years to come, CoServ will focus ON delivering reliable power at a low cost. Rest assured, your elected board of directors will continue to explore our options in the changing electric utility industry.
Hot Topic
Understanding your electric bill
Posted on: 4-17-2008 You may know a coworker or friend who lives in a neighborhood that offers them a choice of electric providers. And, you may have asked the question, “Would my bill be lower IF I had choice?” Your member - elected board of directors discusses this topic regularly and since they live in the CoServ service area (in your neighborhoods) they ask themselves the very same question. The answer, however, is very complex …. And may surprise you.
Our surveys have consistently shown that price IS the most important factor in customer satisfaction, and CoServ is committed to providing rate stability for our members. We constantly monitor market conditions and the competition to ensure that our business decisions support rate consistency. When considering the idea of providing choice (that means “opting in” to deregulation), your board and senior management have a responsibility to do so only if it is in our members' best interest.
If, through the careful decision - making process, the CoServ board were to decide to opt in, the move would require a large financial outlay. Meeting regulatory requirements could cost millions of dollars, and if the board made the decision to enter the deregulated market, it’s important to understand the decision IS irrevocable. We must be absolutely sure the decision will result in low rates and reliable service long - term.
I also believe there may be confusion over what “choice” really means to a consumer. Because CoServ owns, operates and maintains the infrastructure serving your homes and businesses, it’s important to understand that we serve as your “wires company” as well as your power provider. IF CoServ were to offer choice by opting in to the deregulated Texas market, you would indeed be able to decide who “sells” you electricity, but CoServ would continue to “deliver” your power. As a result, a portion of your monthly bill would be paid to CoServ to cover delivery costs. With separate companies charging for delivery of electricity and for electricity itself, it’s tough to determine IF offering choice would actually lower your rates in the long - term. Again, IF you had choice in your neighborhood, you would be able to select the provider who “sells” you electricity. However, these Retail Electric Providers (called REPs) buy their power from a small handful of wholesale power generators who hold market and pricing dominance in Texas. This control over power generation causes pricing to be non - competitive, and we believe it IS one reason that deregulation has not shown positive results. Between 2002 and 2006, electricity rates increased 57 percent in the deregulated Texas market (per the Energy Information Administration) compared to 23 percent in regulated states. And, a number of states that deregulated their electricity markets have actually suspended the practice. Given this uncertainty and dysfunction in the deregulated market, we are hesitant to change the structure of our business and devote significant resources to an idea that doesn’t appear to effectively control costs and rates for the long run. One thing IS certain - being a member of CoServ Electric entitles you to receive power as close to cost as possible. We are owned BY those we serve, and we’ve been earning our members’ trust for more than 70 years. Today and for years to come, CoServ will focus ON delivering reliable power at a low cost. Rest assured, your elected board of directors will continue to explore our options in the changing electric utility industry.
CoServ Customer Service - The Best
My wife and I have been CoServ Customers for 4-5 years and we agree that their customer service and care has been the best of any utility that has serviced our home or apt.
April 2008 - Contact CoServ Contact
Dear Stacy(who posted comment #30), I noticed your post because my Google Alerts are set to notify me with any CoServ Electric mentions, and I want you to know that I'm very sorry you had difficulty in the past with my company. I would very much like to hear your feedback in the interest of improving our customer service. Please contact me at kgloria@coserv.com at your convenience or call me directly at 940 321 7840. I don't know your last name or account number, but with that information, I can research your account and thoroughly address your concerns. As a cooperative, member satisfaction is very important to us, and we are committed to providing safe, reliable service as close to cost as possible.Sincerely,
Kathryn GloriaCoServ Electric PR/Marketing Communications7701 South Stemmons Corinth, Texas 76210
Posted by: Kat April 14, 2008 2:58 PM
Kathryn GloriaCoServ Electric PR/Marketing Communications7701 South Stemmons Corinth, Texas 76210
Posted by: Kat April 14, 2008 2:58 PM
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