The goal of this project is to document the experiences of “frontline” utility workers from the mid-20th century in the Bay Area, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. The 1960s through the 1980s marked a pivotal period of energy service expansion and workforce diversification. By gathering oral histories from meter readers, clerks, service representatives, and other employees who directly and regularly engaged with the public, this project provides vital and overlooked perspectives on the everyday life of energy services. These memories, experiences, and stories will shed light on the evolving dynamics of utility-customer relations and contribute to a deeper understanding of the persistent legacies of energy injustice and inequality in the U.S.
Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation