MPs both call for greater contact with Electricity North West – welcoming the prospect of a short introductory meeting or briefing – while admitting that they are extremely busy and difficult to contact. MPs suggest carefully targeting communications to their interests or constituency needs.
While MPs currently assume that Electricity North West is performing well – assuming that if it was underperforming they would have had complaints from constituents or others – their lack of knowledge poses a long-term danger. MPs, like consumers, have unrealistically high expectations of Electricity North West (perfect reliability at a minimum cost) and little sense of the difficulties of maintaining and renewing the North West’s electricity infrastructure.
Regional Stakeholders
Electricity North West’s regional stakeholders – the largest business users, local government officials and elected members, local and regional forums – are extremely positive about Electricity North West. They praise both their contact with Electricity North West, Electricity North West’s operational performance, and its commitment to long-term planning.
So positively do regional stakeholders regard Electricity North West, that they criticise it for not doing more to promote itself. They call on Electricity North West to make it clearer – to the general public and opinion formers – the role Electricity North West plays in investing in the North West, in employing thousands and maintaining vital infrastructure. Regional stakeholders, alongside MPs, are the keenest supporters of local and regionally focused CSR actions.
NGOs
NGOs are often extremely narrowly focused, with a detailed knowledge and interest in a particular area but with little awareness beyond this specialist area. NGOs are sharply divided in terms of their contact and perceptions of Electricity North West.
Those engaged by Electricity North West are extremely positive. They see Electricity North West as sharing their passion, typically for environmental issues, and praise the company’s performance and staff. Contact with Electricity North West has given these stakeholders some understanding of the issues faced by Electricity North West and its role in the wider sector.
Those NGOs without contact, however, know much less about Electricity North West. These NGOs are not critical of Electricity North West, but instead simply know too little about it to express any type of informed opinion of the company.
Regulators
Regulators, amongst all stakeholders, tend to have the greatest knowledge of Electricity North West and have regular contact with it.
Populus July 2011