CLAYTON – The Town of Clayton’s Electric Department has been recognized for having the second fastest power restoration time in the state, a remarkable achievement for a team of 12 individuals serving nearly 10,000 customers.
This recognition was part of the Certificate of Excellence in Reliability awarded at the ElectriCities 2024 Annual Conference, where Clayton exceeded the five-year national average for reliable service, ensuring the community experiences minimal disruptions in service.
“Our team’s ability to restore power quickly is a testament to their hard work and commitment to keeping our community’s power reliable,” said Electric Director Allen Turnage. “We take great pride in maintaining reliable service, and this motivates us to push for even greater excellence in the future.”
In addition to this prestigious accolade, Clayton was awarded the Public Power Award of Excellence, in the Customer-Centered Innovation category. This award recognizes the Town’s forward-thinking initiatives and customer-centered innovation. Specifically, it highlighted the implementation of the COMS (Clayton Outage and Messaging System) project, which gives customers more modern ways to report service outages, provides updates on restoration times, check utility balances, and allows for emergency communication to residents.
This achievement reflects the collaborative efforts of the Town’s Electric, Water, Customer Service, and Communications and Outreach Departments.
“We’re excited to be recognized for our efforts to serve the community,” said Revenue and Utility Customer Service Director Ann Game. “Our goal is to ensure that our utility services positively impact our residents, and this award is a great acknowledgment of that joint effort.”
Clayton’s Electric Department further distinguished itself by earning the Electricities Safety Award for maintaining an exceptional safety record with zero injuries reported throughout the year.
“Safety is always our top priority, and earning this award reflects the dedication and vigilance of our team in maintaining a secure work environment,” said Turnage. “Achieving zero injuries throughout the year highlights their strong commitment to both safety protocols and the well-being of our community.”
In May of this year at the 25th Annual NCAMES Lineman Rodeo, Clayton’s electric team continued to shine, with lineman Jacob Robinson placing third in the written test and seventh overall in the journeyman competition, showcasing his expertise and commitment to safety protocols.
“These honors highlight the Town of Clayton’s ongoing commitment to providing reliable, innovative, and safe electric services to our residents,” said Town Manager Rich Cappola. “Our goal is to ensure that our community remains a model for excellence in public power, both in service and safety.”
