New telephone system demonstrated at BPU meeting

A new telephone system was demonstrated at the Board of Public Utilities meeting Jan. 7.

The system was updated this past September to improve customer service, according to a spokesman. It is menu-driven with auto-routing capabilities. This feature is expected to help speed up the process and ensure customers don’t lose their place in the queue when calling BPU, the spokesman stated.

Since installation of the integrated voice response system, the BPU has processed more than 150,000 calls.

The BPU also heard a report on the Home Energy Audit Program. More than 300 customers took advantage of the Home Energy Audit Program and BPU distributed more than 3,500 CFL bulbs to energy audit customers.

The BPU’s energy efficiency initiatives in 2015 will include a refrigerator replacement program, Heartland Habitat low-income housing retrofit program and the possible extension of the successful Home Energy Audit Program, the spokesman said.

– Story by David Mehlhaff, BPU chief communications officer