As I’m writing this on Saturday, the forecast for much of the United States calls for freezing rain, snow, and extreme cold. So much so that the USPS has issued service alerts that winter weather may impact delivery in 37 states and the District of Columbia. (By the time you read this, hopefully the alerts are no longer in effect!)

Neither snow nor rain nor…

So much for the unofficial motto of the US Postal Service, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”. I’ve written before that both of my grandfathers were postal carriers. I feel certain they would be embarrassed and ashamed at what the USPS has become.

Using the storm to your advantage

If you are in one of the impacted states, mail delivery will likely be slowed. This includes bills you may have mailed to customers and payments they have mailed to you.

Why not use this to your advantage to get more customers to opt for paperless billing and electronic payments? As you circulate public service announcements about avoiding frozen pipes and dealing with power outages, why not also include a pitch for ebilling and electronic payments?

Are you relying too much on the mail?

Is your office too reliant upon the mail? If it is, or if you’re not sure, please give me a call at 919-673-4050, or email me at gary@utilityinformationpipeline.com to find out how a business review could help you improve and become more efficient.

© 2026 Gary Sanders