Central Neworks, the distribution company for central England, has earned a top award for customer service innovation from energy regulator Ofgem, in its annual Customer Service Reward scheme.

The award highlighted the company's work with vulnerable customers, particularly its provisions for the blind and visually impaired. By undertaking a ground breaking training programme for its staff provided by the Royal Institute of Blind People (RNIB), the company has been able to understand these customers needs more closely.


Phil Wilson, Customer Operations Manager at Central Networks, said: "Imagine your power goes off without warning. You phone Central Networks and you're asked to carry out some ‘simple' checks of your trip switches by the meter. Now imagine doing that if you're blind or partially sighted.

"At Central Networks our aim is always to put ourselves in our customers' shoes and we believe that initiatives such as this will make a real difference to these people's lives."

This is the second consecutive year that Central Networks has been recognised in the scheme, designed to reward innovation in customer service and sees the company competing against other UK Distribution Network Operators.

(CD/GK)