POWERGRAMS

6 Alabama Power is "America's Most Trusted" large residential electric utility company in an inaugural study by Lifestory Research of California. The independent study examined trust among residential customers and how they view their electric utility among several different brand measures. "Our customers' trust ranks right up there with safety among the things we value the most at Alabama Power," said Alabama Power Chairman, President and CEO Mark Crosswhite. "To have an independent research firm determine we are the most trusted residential utility in the country is fitting recognition to the men and women at Alabama Power and a testimony to their work." As the 2015 Lifestory Research America's Most Trusted Residential Electric Utility, Alabama Power produced a Net Trust Quotient Score of 112. The other top 5 were (2) Portland General Electric, (3) Southern California Edison, (4) National Grid (Upstate New York) and (5) Rocky Mountain Power. "Trust is the new measure by which consumers evaluate the companies that serve them," said Lifestory Research President and CEO Eric Snider. "Electric companies have recognized the importance of gaining the trust of those that are relying upon the services provided to residential customers. While satisfaction remains important among customers, we find that trust is critical in how customers view the integrity of the electric utility brand." To qualify for "America's Most Trusted," companies had to be among the top 40 utilities based on their number of customers. Participants in the study lived in the markets of the utilities and identified that they were being served by one of the companies, Snider said. Headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif., Lifestory Research is a national independent market research firm focused on consumers and their homes. The research is backed by in-depth consumer and market intelligence that drives confident business decisions, Snider said. "America's Most Trusted" is a designation awarded to companies that provide services or products to customers in their home. The overall award was established in 2012 by Lifestory Research. Companies and categories awarded the designation of America's Most Trusted include: homebuilders, active adult resort homebuilders, kitchen appliance brands, laundry appliance brands and residential real estate brokerages. Detailed information about the electric utility study is at lifestoryresearch.com/most-trusted/. America's Most Trusted HONORS AL ABAMA POWER TAKES TOP SPOT FOR U.S. ELECTRIC UTILITIES

• Cover