Can a utility send outage notices by ringless voicemail?

Yes, to customers who agreed to hear from the utility. Upload the list of affected customers, write one short script with the area and the expected time, and send it in your voice. A ringless voicemail goes straight to the voicemail inbox without ringing the phone, so customers hear it when they check their phone.

What is the best way for a utility to send payment-due reminders?

Send a short ringless voicemail with the customer's name and due date, then follow with a text that links to your payment page. Leave the amount and the account number out of the recording, and give a number to call.

Can a utility send a text and a voicemail from the same account?

Yes. VoiceDrop sends ringless voicemails and two-way texts. Texting starts with its own signup and carrier registration, done in the dashboard, and customer replies land in one shared inbox your team can answer.

Can a utility use ringless voicemail for storm and restoration updates?

Yes, for updates such as what to expect before a storm and when service is coming back, with a number to call for more. There is no daily cap, and your hourly send rate is set around your program.

How does a utility connect VoiceDrop to its billing or outage system?

Upload a CSV export for a one-time send, or connect through HubSpot, Zapier or Make. Any other system can send through the REST API, with webhooks for deliveries and callbacks.

Do ringless voicemails reach customers who only have a landline?

No. Ringless voicemail reaches mobile and VoIP numbers that can receive voicemail. VoiceDrop checks every list when you upload it and skips landlines, so those customers need another channel.

How does a utility handle customers who opt out?

Your Do-Not-Call list is skipped on every send. Add numbers by hand, by file or by API, turn on a national Do Not Call check for a campaign, and export your opt-out history whenever you need it.

For Utilities

Ringless voicemail reaches thousands of utility customers about outages and bills

The best way for a utility to reach thousands of customers by voicemail and text is to send a short ringless voicemail about the outage, bill or service visit, then follow with a text. The voicemail lands without ringing the phone, each customer hears their own name, and callbacks ring your customer service team.

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Phone never rang

Says Carlos’s name

Waits in voicemail

A sample outage notice, as the customer sees it.

Utilities can use voicemail and text for five kinds of customer notices.

Electric, water, gas and broadband providers send the same kinds of notices. Each one is a short message to customers who agreed to hear from you, with a number to call.

Outage notices. Tell customers which area is affected by an outage or planned maintenance, and when service should be back.
Billing notices. Let customers know that a new bill is ready or that something about their billing has changed, and where to find the details.
Payment-due reminders. Remind customers that a payment is due soon, with their name and the due date from your file. Follow with a text that links to your payment page.
Service notices. Confirm a technician visit, a meter appointment or maintenance work in a customer's area, with the day and the time window. The appointment reminder page shows the same idea for clinics.
Storm notices. Tell customers what to expect before a storm, and update them as service comes back, with a number to call.

Property managers send rent reminders and maintenance notices the same way, as described on the property management page, and call centers use it to reach people after a missed call.

Real screens

Here is what a customer notice campaign looks like inside VoiceDrop.

VoiceDrop's script box with a first name field, and a Listen button that plays the voicemail before it sends — Write it once, hear it firstType the message, drop in each contact's first name, and listen to it before anything goes out.

VoiceDrop campaign settings: area code matching, sending days and hours, a cap per hour and a Do Not Call check — Send when people listenPick the days and hours, match your number to their area code, and cap how many go out each hour.

VoiceDrop's phone validation: a list sorted into mobile, VoIP or landline, and invalid numbers, with the invalid ones skipped. Sample counts. — Bad numbers skippedBefore you send, the list is sorted into mobile, landline and invalid numbers, and invalid ones are skipped.

VoiceDrop gives a utility the tools a customer notice needs.

Every notice goes out in your own voice.

Clone a voice from a 20 to 90 second recording, or pick one of 37 ready-made voices.

Each customer hears their own name.

Merge any column from your file into the script, like a first name, a service area or a due date.

You send from your own numbers.

Numbers you own are confirmed with a code, and you can rotate several on one campaign.

Notices go out in each customer's local hours.

Pick the days and hours, from 7 AM to 11 PM, and VoiceDrop matches each customer's time zone.

Your billing or outage system can send for you.

Upload a CSV, connect HubSpot, Zapier or Make, or send through the REST API, with webhooks for deliveries and callbacks.

Bad numbers are skipped before you send.

Every list is checked on upload and landlines are skipped. Send 100 or 1,000,000, with no daily cap.

Calls and text replies come straight back to your team.

Customers get the notice on their own time and call back only if they need you.

A ringless voicemail does not ring the phone, so nobody is pulled away from work or sleep, and the message waits in the inbox. When a customer needs to talk, they call the number in the message. Calls to your VoiceDrop numbers forward to your team and are logged with the campaign each caller heard.

Callbacks forward to a verified number, such as your customer service line
Each call is logged with the campaign the caller heard
Results come in plain words, so you know who still needs another notice

Customers can reply by text, and your team answers from one shared inbox.

Follow a voicemail with a text that carries your outage map, your payment link or a service window. Customers text back, your team answers in the same thread, and filters show who still needs a reply. Texting starts with its own signup and a short carrier registration form in the dashboard.

Bulk texts with each customer's name in them
Opt-outs and duplicate-send protection on every text
Team assignments, so every reply has an owner

A two-way text conversation in VoiceDrop booking a call for 3 PM. Sample conversation.

VoiceDrop is made for messages to your own customers, who agreed to hear from you. Your Do-Not-Call list is skipped on every send, and you can add numbers by hand, by file or by API. A national Do Not Call check is one switch on each campaign, and you can export your opt-out history whenever you need it.

You pick the days and hours, from 7 AM to 11 PM, and VoiceDrop matches each customer's own time zone. Before your first send, read are ringless voicemails legal and the TCPA guide. VoiceDrop is SOC 2 Type II compliant, and your contact data and voice recordings are encrypted in transit and at rest.

Questions

Here are answers to 7 questions utilities ask.

Can a utility send outage notices by ringless voicemail?
Yes, to customers who agreed to hear from the utility. Upload the list of affected customers, write one short script with the area and the expected time, and send it in your voice. A ringless voicemail goes straight to the voicemail inbox without ringing the phone, so customers hear it when they check their phone.
What is the best way for a utility to send payment-due reminders?
Send a short ringless voicemail with the customer's name and due date, then follow with a text that links to your payment page. Leave the amount and the account number out of the recording, and give a number to call.
Can a utility send a text and a voicemail from the same account?
Yes. VoiceDrop sends ringless voicemails and two-way texts. Texting starts with its own signup and carrier registration, done in the dashboard, and customer replies land in one shared inbox your team can answer.
Can a utility use ringless voicemail for storm and restoration updates?
Yes, for updates such as what to expect before a storm and when service is coming back, with a number to call for more. There is no daily cap, and your hourly send rate is set around your program.
How does a utility connect VoiceDrop to its billing or outage system?
Upload a CSV export for a one-time send, or connect through HubSpot, Zapier or Make. Any other system can send through the REST API, with webhooks for deliveries and callbacks.
Do ringless voicemails reach customers who only have a landline?
No. Ringless voicemail reaches mobile and VoIP numbers that can receive voicemail. VoiceDrop checks every list when you upload it and skips landlines, so those customers need another channel.
How does a utility handle customers who opt out?
Your Do-Not-Call list is skipped on every send. Add numbers by hand, by file or by API, turn on a national Do Not Call check for a campaign, and export your opt-out history whenever you need it.

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