WPD named utility of the year

Western Power Distribution (WPD) has been named Utility of the Year in the 2014 Achievement Awards organised by Utility Week magazine and announced in London last night (December 8).

Robert Symons, WPD Chief Executive with the Utility of the Year Award.

Hailed as the most prestigious awards event in the utility industry, competition between businesses is always incredibly tough. WPD was the only electricity or gas distribution business to be shortlisted for the top award.

Fending off competition from dozens of other businesses in water, gas and electricity, WPD had been shortlisted as Utility of the Year with Affinity Water, Good Energy, OVO Energy and United Utilities Business.

In judging WPD as the winner, a panel of industry experts scrutinised its performance in terms of customer satisfaction, stakeholder return, sustainability and corporate social responsibility, staff development and stakeholder relationship.

They agreed that WPD had demonstrated “compelling evidence of consistent delivery right across its business.”

Robert Symons, WPD Chief Executive who received the award on behalf of the company, said it was immensely pleasing for WPD’s many successes of the past 12 months to be formally recognised by peers in the shape of the Utility of the Year accolade.