Last month, TVA honored employees of the Benton County Electric System (BCES) for their dedication to service during COVID-19, their implementation of the Community Cares Programs, and many ways that BCES helped customers during the pandemic.
BCES had no choice but to work throughout the pandemic, with many staff working from home during periods of quarantine. Even with more than 15 staff out at one given time, BCES believes customers never saw a decrease in service levels.
The agency followed federal and TVA directives regarding managing accounts to assist customers challenged by layoffs or closures during the pandemic. BCES suspended disconnects for non-payment for a period of time, and worked with customers on repayment plans to help customers bring their accounts up to date.
“We really appreciate TVA recognizing our employees for their hard work. Because the lights had to stay on, we changed the way we worked, and pushed through the challenges,” said BCES General Manager Scott Owens. “The utility industry is a 24/7 on call industry, and I’m so proud of how our team at BCES rose to the occasion to address the challenges caused by the pandemic.”
