From Backup Vendor to Trusted T1 Partner for Duke Energy Florida

T2 to T1 Vendor Status. 69% Employee Retention. Top-Tier Employee Engagement.

The Bottom Line

ACRT transformed its role with Duke Energy Florida from a backup (“T2”) vendor into a trusted Tier 1 partner by delivering stronger field leadership, faster staffing responsiveness, operational accountability, and process improvements that improved execution across both vegetation management and capital project support.

The result: expanded responsibilities, stronger client trust, improved utility workforce stability, and a scalable operational support model.

The Challenge

• Previous vendors struggled with leadership presence, staffing responsiveness, and quality consistency
• Slow backfilling of positions negatively impacted operational performance
• Duke lacked an efficient resource management and tracking process for transmission capital projects
• Administrative bottlenecks delayed invoicing, payments, and completion tracking for critical field work

ACRT’s Approach

Stronger Field Leadership & Operational Support

• Delivered consistent, hands-on supervisory support in the field
• Implemented proactive problem-solving processes to resolve issues before escalation
• Built a robust recruiting pipeline enabling rapid staffing and team ramp-up

Process Improvement & Project Coordination

• Partnered directly with Duke Energy leadership to identify workflow barriers and operational inefficiencies
• Developed streamlined processes, job aids, and onboarding tools for transmission capital project management
• Established a dedicated single point of contact for project tracking and coordination

Vendor & Contractor Integration

• Trained and onboarded tree vendors, including Davey Tree Expert Company, Wright Tree Service, and Asplundh, on Duke Energy systems and processes
• Improved billing accuracy, project tracking, and communication across contractors and internal teams

Workforce Engagement & Culture

• Created a highly engaged operational culture focused on leadership visibility, safety, responsiveness, and accountability
• Supported employee development through hands-on leadership and operational mentorship

Results

Utility Workforce Stability & Engagement

• Achieved a 69% employee retention rate (3/20/25 – 3/20/26), significantly outperforming industry retention rates and helping provide Duke with greater workforce stability and operational continuity
• Earned an 8.4 employee engagement score, exceeding industry benchmarks

Operational & Client Impact

• Advanced from T2 vendor to Duke Energy Florida’s T1 vendor based on performance and operational execution
• Strong performance in Florida helped support ACRT in securing Duke Midwest T1 opportunities

Process & Efficiency Improvements

• Improved billing accuracy and project tracking consistency
• Reduced administrative bottlenecks impacting transmission capital project timelines
• Enhanced onboarding and coordination across multiple tree vendor partners

What This Means for You

Faster Staffing & Better Workforce Stability
ACRT’s recruiting strength, field leadership, and employee engagement help reduce turnover and maintain operational continuity.

Stronger Operational Accountability
Hands-on supervision and proactive communication improve execution quality and reduce operational risk.

More Efficient Project Delivery
Streamlined workflows, centralized coordination, and improved tracking help keep projects on time and on budget.

A Scalable Utility Partner
ACRT adapts quickly to changing operational needs and can scale support across vegetation management, capital projects, and contractor coordination.

Proven Performance That Builds Trust
ACRT’s results-driven approach helped elevate the company from a backup vendor to a top-performing strategic partner.

Why ACRT

ACRT combines strong field leadership, scalable workforce solutions, and operational process expertise to help utilities improve execution, strengthen workforce stability, and deliver consistent program results.