Oxford Utilities Prepares to Launch New Text Message Service

A Newly Approved System Promises Enhanced Customer Communication

The city of Oxford is set for a significant customer service upgrade. Oxford Utilities has received approval from the Oxford Board of Aldermen for a contract with TextPower—a renowned bulk text message service provider. The new system will provide customers with swift, crucial updates via text message, enhancing direct interaction. Currently, Oxford Utilities principally uses social media channels to notify its client base of outages or significant events.

TextPower: A Cutting-Edge Choice for Customer Involvement

In an effort to bolster communication in emergency situations, OU plans to utilize TextPower to send text messages about issues such as outages and outage restoration, boil water notices, emergency conditions, and vegetation management notices. Other notifications can include reminders for broken payment arrangement, water leak notifications, and details of planned power outages.

Oxford Utilities’ General Manager, Rob Neely, has expressed great optimism about the upcoming service. “TextPower will be a good way to reach out and have that dialogue with customers,” he said. “We’ve been looking for a better way to communicate emergencies and information to our utility customers.”

Neely also revealed that the system caters to highly localized events, with capability to text customers residing in certain areas facing specific situations such as power cuts. When power goes out, affected customers will receive a notification, followed by another text confirming when power has been restored.

TextPower’s Implementation and Operation Details

The complete deployment of this text message service is expected to take 30 to 60 days, with operational commencement scheduled for this summer. The initial cost for the service stands at around $5,000, backed by a monthly fee of $679 to cover the first 10,000 text messages. Any texts beyond this cap will be charged an additional fee, with rates varying from $.17 to $.40 depending on volume.

With utility customers increasingly reliant on prompt and precise information, services like TextPower offer a substantial aid in enhancing communication efficiency. This provisional system is one of several steps towards improving Oxford Utilities’ customer service and making it easier for residents to stay informed about pertinent utility issues in their area.