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Although most respondents have a positive view of membership in the Utilities Service Alliance (USA), a recent survey of employees at USA stations shows a large percentage don’t know the value the alliance returns.

The survey, offered online between Sept. 21 and Oct. 4, had more than 1,100 responses. It found that approximately 44 percent of respondents either don’t know or are significantly unsure whether USA membership provides financial value. Approximately 45 percent of respondents either agree or strongly agree that it does while 11 percent say they believe their stations do not receive financial value.

When it comes to whether USA membership helps improve operations and whether USA has good reputation in the nuclear industry, the survey found slightly greater levels of agreement. Approximately 51 percent of respondents say they agree or strongly agree that USA membership improves their station’s operations and that USA has a good reputation in the nuclear industry. Approximately 36 percent say they don’t know and 12 percent do not agree.

“It does not surprise us that there is a significant lack of awareness about the savings members realize through USA projects and programs and through supply chain efficiencies,” says John Christensen, USA Vice President of Operational Performance. “Beyond meetings with station executives and our leadership, USA typically has not talked about the savings stations receive.”

As an example, USA members saved more than $48 million in 2015 through a combination of programs that helped them run more safely, reliably and efficiently, and Supply Chain agreements that decrease the costs of purchasing services and owning components and equipment. These savings paved the way for USA members to provide more than 13,000 megawatts of safe, reliable, carbon-free energy to homes, businesses and manufacturing facilities all across the nation.

“For more than 20 years, USA has helped non-fleet nuclear operators perform more safely, reliably and cost-effectively,” Christensen says. “Changing energy markets and the nuclear industry’s constant focus on performing safely and reliably are driving USA to be more vocal about how sharing resources, consolidating support services, realizing supply chain efficiencies helps them accomplish their goals. You can expect to see more of these USA success stories in the coming months.”

In addition to establishing a baseline for member knowledge about USA value, the survey also asked questions about how members get their news and what Social Media they use. Approximately 80 percent say they prefer to get their news about the nuclear industry from news digests and internal sources. Approximately 72 percent use some form of Social Media with Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn being the most popular.

Survey respondents at each station were offered an opportunity to enter a drawing for a $150 Amazon gift card. The winners of these random drawings were:
Columbia – Brian M. Ekar
Comanche Peak – Wes Monk
Fermi – Steve Ward
Monticello – Paul Crosby
Prairie Island – John Walters
Susquehanna – Christopher M. Aceti

USA is an alliance of six utilities operating seven nuclear power stations generating more than 12,000 megawatts of energy. In addition to administering a network of more than 60 nuclear suppliers, USA helps its members leverage their combined resources, talent and expertise to serve their customers with clean, safe, reliable and cost-efficient energy. It is on the web at www.usainc.org.