Virginia Natural Gas launches partnership with Nextdoor to share critical real-time safety information and company updates with customers and community
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Oct. 29, 2020 – Virginia Natural Gas (VNG) is partnering with Nextdoor, the popular neighborhood hub, to launch VNG’s newest tool that communicates crucial safety information and company announcements in neighborhoods across VNG’s service area in Southeast Virginia.
With the kickoff of the new partnership, Virginia Natural Gas will be the first energy provider in Virginia to use the digital communications tool for community engagement.
“We are committed to keeping our customers and communities safe and informed as we conduct business daily throughout the neighborhoods across our service territory,” said Robert Duvall, VNG president. “Nextdoor provides another important channel for VNG to communicate quickly and efficiently with residents across the communities we serve.”
Each neighborhood within VNG’s service area has its own free and private Nextdoor neighborhood network, accessible only to residents of that neighborhood. There they can share information, including neighborhood public safety issues, community events and activities, local services, and even lost pets.
VNG will be able to post information, such as road closures, planned outages, scheduled maintenance, community events, or the rare public safety issue on Nextdoor neighborhood networks within the regions it serves.
“Neighbors utilize Nextdoor every day to connect with their community, look for local recommendations, and stay up to date on critical information from their public agencies and service providers, like Virginia Natural Gas. Providing a platform that neighbors can rely on to stay informed is essential to building stronger communities,” said Dan Parham, head of Nextdoor for Public Agencies.
VNG will incorporate Nextdoor along with the company’s other social media channels in an effort to modernize how the energy provider communicates with customers. By adding Nextdoor to VNG’s digital portfolio, more customers will be able to receive important information targeted specifically to their neighborhoods.
"Nextdoor will enable us to more easily connect and work with residents to ensure their natural gas service needs are met while we continue to provide safe, reliable service to our communities and our customers,” added Duvall. “This partnership will allow us to get the right information at the right time to our customers and neighbors.”
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About Virginia Natural Gas
Virginia Natural Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Virginia Natural Gas provides natural gas service to nearly 300,000 customers in southeast Virginia and has been recognized as one of the safest, most reliable and customer-focused natural gas service providers. Consistently ranked in the top quartile for customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates, the company has also been recognized by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and the Virginia Oil and Gas Association for its safety, community outreach and educational programs, and was named Local Distribution Company for three consecutive years. Virginia Natural Gas has been ranked by its business customers as being one of the most Trusted Business Partners in the utility industry according to Cogent Reports, and as one of the Top Workplaces in Hampton Roads by Inside Business. For more information, visit virginianaturalgas.com and connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 700,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.
Media Contact:
Rick DelaHaya
o: 757.616.7510 | c: 757.323.7366 | rdelahay@southernco.com
