The nation's retail chains yesterday named American Electric Power, Entergy, and Southern Company as offering the best overall electric company customer service in 2003. Awards for outstanding customer service by an individual National Accounts’ executive were presented to Barry Mosser of American Electric Power, Janet Booker of Southern Company, and Marguerite Towne of National Grid USA.

The awards, presented during Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI) Spring National Accounts Workshop, were part of the seventh annual Customer Service Awards’ program. Each year, the nation’s multisite businesses recognize the electric companies who provide customer service levels and information that go beyond expectations. This was the sixth consecutive year that both Entergy and Southern have earned the distinction for best overall electric company customer service.

“The winning companies and representatives deserve the praise they received today,” said Steve Kiesner, Director of EEI’s National Accounts program. “Their work has benefited their customers, and their focus and dedication serve as an inspiration to other electric companies and National Accounts representatives.”

Margaret Manning, assistant vice president of TJX Companies said, “All the award winners, the electric companies and the individual representatives, earned their awards based on their day-in and day-out work with the nation’s chains. It is obvious, especially for repeat winners Entergy and Southern Company, that they take great pride in helping to make their customers more successful.”

The companies voting in the awards program encompass a wide variety of industries, and include such brands as McDonalds, Starwood Hotels, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Staples, and The Limited.