TFCC Helps Utilities Handle Record Storm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 08, 2010
Twenty First Century Communications Helps Utilities Handle Record Storm
Some Miss Super Bowl Because of Power Outages
Columbus, Ohio, February 8, 2010: Last weekend’s record-setting storm systems knocked out power in widely scattered parts of the east coast threatening Super Bowl parties from Washington D.C down to Arkansas.
While people throughout the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast faced power outages, many utilities used technology to quickly identify and respond to service disruptions.
One of the biggest problems utilities face after a storm like last weekend’s is responding to the massive number of customer calls to report outages. To solve this problem most utilities use a high volume call answering system developed by Twenty First Century Communications.
According to Bently Collier, TFCC vice president of sales, TFCC’s high volume call answering system fields the heavy incoming call traffic associated with power outages and returns restoration information using automation. “HVCA greatly expands a utilities capacity to handle tens of thousands of customer calls. It collects outage information and feeds critical data back to the utility so they can quickly assess the outage footprint and efficiently address restoration for their customers.”
“We worked around the clock this past weekend to support numerous utilities and public safety agencies downed by the storms. From Friday through Sunday we handled almost 2 million power outage calls.” Collier said.
In addition to heavy incoming calls, several utilities and public safety agencies used TFCC‘s emergency notification system, called a universal communications system, to broadcast important storm information to their customers. According to Collier one Virginia county used their TFCC emergency notification system to make over 52,000 calls informing county residents about a community shelter for residents without power.
“Public and private organizations use our automated notification and call-handling solutions to relieve their call center, respond to a crisis, protect people, mobilize first responders, and much more.” Collier added. “And with a second storm coming in the next few days we’re geared up to handle millions more calls if need.”
