Chartwell's Best Practices Awards: Excellence in Outage Initiatives

This category recognizes innovative communication initiatives designed to improve the customer experience before, during or after an outage event, regardless of size and scope. Entries may include, but are not limited to, efforts related to strategic planning, contact centers, web and mobile services, employee training, changes in messaging and streamlining of processes.

Judges will evaluate the following criteria:

• Improved service through innovation or technology
• Innovation or originality
• Quality of the effort
• Measured results in customer satisfaction related to outage communications
• Operational efficiency gains or savings

This category recognizes initiatives demonstrating excellence or innovation in outage operations practices and procedures that prevent customer outages and/or improve restoration efficiency. Entries may include, but are not limited to, efforts related to strategic planning, employee training, dispatch and coordination, improvements in damage assessment procedures or tools, distribution automation and other improvements in systems and technologies.

Judges will evaluate the following criteria:

• Improved service through innovation or technology
• Innovation or originality
• Quality of the effort
• Measured results in customer satisfaction related to outage duration
• Operational efficiency gains or savings

This category recognizes outstanding strategies and practices in emergency management, emphasizing comprehensive approaches to handling incidents like natural disasters, cybersecurity breaches, and equipment failures. Entrants should showcase unified communication, demonstrating “one voice” coordination with stakeholders, agencies, and regulators. Submissions should highlight successful incident command, response planning, and training, illustrating an organization’s resilience during heightened challenges.

Judges will evaluate the following criteria:

• Continuous performance improvement
• Response strategy effectiveness
• Brand protection
• Impact on customer confidence
• Proven organizational agility

1. Entries are limited to two per category per utility.
2. Some or all of the effort should have been undertaken between January 2023 and February 2024.
3. Entry is being submitted by a utility professional with an electric, gas, or water utility who currently holds a position with the utility company that appears on the entry form.
4. Current utility leadership has given permission to have this entry submitted to The Chartwell Best Practice Awards.
5. The utility understands that by submitting this award entry, you are agreeing to have a representative from your utility present at the conference to accept your award on stage. Should your utility be unable to attend the conference to accept your award, Chartwell reserves the right to present the award to an alternate submission.
6. The utility understands that by submitting this award entry, the utility agrees that if your utility is a Gold award winner, a utility representative will present your program in a session at the conference. If Silver or Bronze is awarded to your utility, a utility representative will present your program on a Chartwell webinar within the 6-month period before or after the conference. Should your utility be unable to commit to presenting on a webinar, Chartwell reserves the right to present the award to an alternate submission.
7. The utility understands that no vendors will be allowed to accept an award on their behalf or be present on stage during a presentation about the award should the utility be asked to speak at the conference or on a webinar.

Enter by February 2, 2024

Step 1:  Choose the category to enter.

Entries are limited to two per category per utility. Some or all of the effort should have been undertaken between January 2023 and February 2024.

Step 2:  Complete the award entry form and attach supporting documents

Submissions require a short summary along with a detailed project description (1,800 words maximum in PDF or Word format) that includes the following:

• A history of the project/program or effort.
• Details about the effort including significant dates, major participants and target audience. (Note: Some or all of the effort should have been undertaken between January 2023 and February 2024.)
• The goals and results of the project/program or effort, including how results were measured.
• The facts and features making the project innovative and unique.
• How the project meets the criteria for the respective award, as outlined above.
• The reason it should win the Best Practices Award.

You may upload supporting components along with the submission form, such as print or digital advertisements, video/audio files, social media posts and photographs.

Award entries will become the property of Chartwell Inc. and may be displayed or distributed during PowerUp: Chartwell’s Outage Conference or for Chartwell members on Chartwell’s websites.

The award winners will be announced during the Awards Ceremony and will be recognized in subsequent presentations as well as featured articles in Chartwell’s Insight Center. Images and videos of winners may be used in Chartwell promotional material.

Click here to submit your entry.

Questions? Contact awards@chartwellinc.com.