Blog

How Can Utility Websites Build Trust with Transparency?

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

We have all heard the expression, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” But let’s be honest. When it comes to websites, customers frequently break this rule. Members and customers are more likely to trust a website that is modern and functional than a website that appears outdated. A website for an electric cooperative or any community-owned utility organization is a critical asset of communication. One that is useful and aesthetically pleasing demonstrates an organization’s dedication to connecting with its consumers.

How can web design build trust with transparency? Powerful’s team of trusted web experts created remarkably effective web apps to establish trust and credibility.

An Open Book

To create long-lasting connections with your members and customers, make your organization easy to know about.

Who are the driving forces behind the successes of your Utility? Your dedicated employees. Showcase the backbone of your organization with the help of Powerful’s Staff Directory Web App.

Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative launched their new website in September 2022 with the Staff Directory Web App being utilized to showcase staff members and provide more transparency on who to contact as well as background information on key members of their management team.

The Staff Directory app provides site visitors with useful information like descriptions, addresses, and contact information. Putting faces to names makes your organization easily accessible to the public. Simply seeing the smiling faces of staff reinforces a humanized web experience.

To expand your connections with the public, make your job openings visible to all. The Jobs Web App provides important details on available positions. Site visitors have the capability to download a job application or apply online with Powerful’s Online Forms app.

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) has integrated an automatic XML feed to take job listings from their HRMS system and display them on their website within the Jobs Web App.

Members and customers appreciate upfront information. Demonstrate your organization’s expertise and commitment to your customers and members with thorough, relevant information. Powerful’s Rate Plans Web App provides a visual presentation of the services your organization offers. This Web App offers a variety of customizable options including pricing frequency, features, labels, icons, and links.

Eastex Telephone Cooperative utilizes the Rate Plan Web App to showcase available offerings to their consumer-members.

The successes of your organization are thanks to your employees’ dedication. Ensure your members and customers are informed by providing access to important updates and meeting information. Powerful’s Agendas & Minutes Web App is an all-inclusive interface that displays agendas, meeting minutes, packets, and audio/video files on your website.

Central Lincoln PUD takes advantage of the Agendas & Minutes Web App to easily display board meeting agendas, minutes and packets to their customers.

Making important information easy to access on a website adds to a feeling of transparency, ultimately showing that your organization knows and understands your members and customers. It’s all about being open and honest.

Be on the Same Page

Utility Organizations play an integral role within communities. Members often look to your website for answers and resources. Is your website made with your members and customers in mind? To work together with your community, your website must provide thorough knowledge and information to boost a mutual understanding of one another.

In the case of local inconveniences like power outages, or critical, up-to-the-minute emergencies like flood warnings and boil water alerts, Powerful’s Alerts app provides an efficient and noticeable way to get important news out to website visitors. As a result of providing real-time updates, members and customers will feel comfort and ease.

During Hurricane Ian, Peace River Electric Cooperative enabled the Alerts Web App to quickly keep members informed of outages and the restoration process.

To stay connected with the community, Powerful’s Events Web App keeps the public informed about events in your community or internal events in your organization. With short descriptions and hyperlinks, website visitors can easily access event details.

Grays Harbor PUD utilizes the Events & Calendar Web App to keep customers informed of upcoming commissioner meetings.

To garner greater trust, your members and customers have the capability to subscribe to the latest updates on your organization’s website. Powerful’s Looped In app empowers your members to stay connected.

Clear communication creates a sense of unity. It is extremely valuable for an organization and its members to be on the same page.

One for the Books

Make the conscious decision to create a website that builds trust with your members and customers. To achieve this, Powerful’s exclusive collection of web apps have the power to unlock a trustworthy, reliable means of communication within your community.