NORTH ATTLEBORO -North Attleboro Electric Department received high marks from residents for customer service and its efforts at keeping power interruptions down on its annual customer survey.

The survey of 401 residents was conducted in September by SDS Research of Salt Lake City. North Attleboro Electric conducts a survey annually, switching its focus every other year from business to residential customers. The contract with SDS Research is not to exceed $14,000.

Overall ratings of North Attleboro Electric were very positive, with 92 percent giving positive ratings based on seven factors of reliability, responsiveness, communication, staff, honesty and integrity, conservation, community service and rates.

The rating is a big increase when compared to results in 2007, when 76 percent of the residential customers surveyed gave North Attleboro Electric positive marks.

North Attleboro Electric General Manager James Moynihan said the positive survey results are a direct result of the efforts by the department's employees. "Without the outstanding efforts of our personnel, day in and day out, the outstanding results that this survey presents would not be possible," he said. "The positive feedback that we received from this survey is certainly gratifying.

"The results will only serve to encourage all of us at North Attleboro Electric Department to continue our efforts to improve our services and this organization."

Customer service efforts at North Attleboro Electric received positive ratings from 95 percent of those surveyed - a slight increase from the 2007 residential survey when 94 percent gave customer service positive marks.

While 73 percent of customers believe that green energy sources are important, only 35 percent are willing to pay up to 5 percent more for it.

Another 25 percent of survey respondents said they were interested in green energy, but only if there is no additional cost associated with it.

In addition, 43 percent of respondents said it is "most important" that North Attleboro Electric offer low rates, while 38 percent said service quality is "most important" and 10 percent said having a diversified fuel source was "most important."

Asked to rate North Attleboro Electric's efforts to keep power interruptions to a minimum, 98 percent of customers gave the utility a positive rating.

Todd Morris, director of sales, said North Attleboro Electric's survey ratings are "very strong," compared with other utilities measured by SDS Research.

Electric Commission Chairman Charles Mottinger said the survey is designed to help the department receive customer feedback.

"The presentation of the survey results at this time is particularly timely because North Attleboro Electric Department is now in the process of preparing its fiscal year 2010 operating budget and capital improvement plan, so the information from the survey will be now able to be integrated into our fiscal planning process." AMY DeMELIA covers North Attleboro for The Sun Chronicle. She can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.