We Energies named ‘Best in Midwest’ for 10th consecutive year

We Energies' commitment to customer service is being honored with a 2020 ReliabilityOne Award, citing the superior reliability of the company's electric delivery network. This is the 10th year in a row and 13th time in the past 15 years that the company has been recognized as the most reliable utility in the region.

The award, which is based on performance for the year 2019, is presented annually by PA Consulting to utilities that have achieved outstanding reliability performance and have excelled in delivering the most reliable electric service to their customers.

“This award is a testament to the dedication of every one of our employees," said Tom Metcalfe, president — We Energies. “From modernizing our networks to new innovations, we work hard every day to provide world-class service to our customers."

We Energies has made significant investments in recent years to strengthen the reliability of its network by rebuilding hundreds of miles of electric distribution lines and replacing thousands of poles and transformers. These investments continue to modernize the company's delivery systems, reduce operating costs and improve energy efficiency.

“Year in and year out, We Energies is an industry leader in providing reliable service to their customers," said Gregg Edeson, ReliabilityOne program director — PA Consulting. “We are pleased to once again highlight their outstanding service and efforts with a ReliabilityOne Award."

In addition to We Energies being named Best in the Midwest, Paul Gogan, director — electric distribution asset management, was presented with the “Outstanding Contributor to Reliability Award" for his work with the Deliver the Future program at We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service and Upper Michigan Energy Resources. The program will modernize the electric infrastructure through asset replacement, equipment hardening, undergrounding, advanced communications, sensors, substation upgrades and smart devices over a 10-year period. The program is rebuilding over 600 miles of distribution lines annually, including the conversion of 100 miles of overhead distribution lines to underground and the replacement of all “active" line equipment with communications.

Both awards were presented virtually Nov. 19.

All utilities operating electric delivery networks in North America are eligible for consideration for the ReliabilityOne Award. The selection of provisional recipients is based primarily on system reliability statistics that measure the frequency and duration of customer outages. After provisional recipients are selected, each company undergoes an on-site certification process that provides an independent review and confirmation of the policies, processes and systems used to collect, analyze and report a company's reliability results.