Co-op employees received high marks from members responding to a recent survey designed to gauge satisfaction with Flathead Electric. Management and staff will use the survey to improve the Co-op’s service.

The scientific telephone survey conducted by A & A research polled 505 randomly selected Flathead Electric members from throughout the Co-op’s service area.

Those surveyed were asked to answer a variety of questions, using a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 indicating they were very satisfied and 1 indicating they were not at all satisfied. Questions covered many aspects of Co-op operations, from level of involvement in the community to response in case of power outages.

A majority of the members surveyed — 58 percent — gave the highest rating of 5 to having courteous employees. A majority said they were very satisfied with the quality of electrical service provided by the Co-op, and nearly half rated reliability of service as a 5.

The biggest area of dissatisfaction was with the cost of electricity, with 34 percent of those responding rating having reasonable rates as poor (1 or 2 on the scale). Less than 10 percent rated any other items on the survey as poor.

"Compared with the last survey, (conducted in 2001) our members are much more satisfied with the Co-op," said Jan Weaver, Member Services and Billing Manager. "The biggest issue is rates, and we’re working on that."

Among other survey results:

• Four out of five people — 82 percent — read the Watts Happening newsletter at least occasionally.

• 11 percent had attended an annual membership meeting in the last three years