Billing & Bill Payment
-
Going green has become a topic of ongoing importance, with consumers increasingly seeking out businesses that employ environmentally responsible practices. Many environmental initiatives, including the delivery of renewable energy and the reduction of carbon emissions, are high-level long-term goals, however, utility companies should not overlook another green technology that resonates with consumers: electronic bill payment.
-
How often and how thoroughly do you think about your customers? Do you lump them into sums and then slice them into segments? Do you wonder about how they reach you and if they are reaching out to you—and you are reaching out to them—in the most efficient and effective way possible?
-
Utility companies are under increased pressure to build new infrastructure that will drive better performance and returns for decades. Recent natural disasters have brought this issue to the forefront but it requires capital. According to Booz & Company, "Capital expenditure requirements across the U.S. utility industry are expected to exceed US$100 billion annually through 2020. This represents an increase of 100 percent over the annual costs of the early 2000s, according to Edison Electric Institute."
-
Everyone’s on Twitter these days, including power utilities. In January, we ran a very popular feature on the best utility tweets of 2012. It was so popular, we’ve decided to do what any media outlet would do when faced with popularity: We’re making sequels. This month’s most fabulous utility tweets include details on community work, holiday references and the final words of a retiring industry leader.
-
As utilities embrace social media, here are 12 shiny tweet gems that are direct, informative, amusing or all three (and all in that short, slight number of Twitter characters). Some show the power of Twitter to communicate with customers. Some illustrate cross-marketing concepts, and some are just plain funny.
-
U.S. utilities are not as backwards as I am. Many have embraced social media to communicate with customers more regularly and interactively. And, they’ve managed to truly open dialogues, in many cases. Here are some of Intelligent Utility’s favorite tweets from U.S. power companies in 2012 (and the DOE), ranging from executive interactions to outage updates to the truly odd and awesome.
-
According to the latest E Source benchmark study, the top-rated U.S. and Canadian electric and gas utility business websites belong to Xcel Energy, CPS Energy, and LG&E and KU.
-
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) [NYSE: SAI] was awarded a 10 year contract by United Power for a 10,000 meter pilot project of advanced metering infrastructure solutions and implementation of SAIC's Smart Grid as a Service (SGS) offering.
-
Utility's smart meter learnings inspire new approach
PG&E is applying hard-won lessons in customer engagement to ensure that small- and medium-sized business customers are prepared for state-mandated dynamic pricing progams taking effect this November. The utility used interval meter data to identify which customers would be adversely affected and ensured they had full information on the program and guidance on how to mitigate impacts.
-
ComEd and Oncor to discuss their new customer mobile apps in webinar
Join us next week for a webinar on utility mobile customer apps for insights into two apps launched this year by two very different utilities. In the meantime, for a sneak peek at what we'll be talking about, read on.
-
CS Week offers up a wealth of consumer-facing thought and practice
Is mobility the next "killer" app? The customer is definitely front-and-center in today's next-generation utility. From outage communications management and prepay to new analytics capabilities, there are a lot of mobile application options to consider. What's at the top of the list at the moment? A panel of industry experts debates.
-
Oncor shares its measurable steps
Outage management and outage communication are essential to a good utility-customer relationship. At the AGA/EEI Customer Service Conference last week, Oncor told the story of how it shifted from a traditional utility mindset to a re-energized, customer-focused company, particularly where it concerned outage communications.
-
Customers maintain interest in offers, if offered
An annual, global Accenture study paints a portrait of electricity customers worldwide, with American consumers in context. Guess what? They're open to offers, if utilities make them offers. The study identifies opportunities, if utilities can seize the day.
-
Effort to cut costs, raise satisfaction, seeks payoff
A team of customer service representatives at Ameren Missouri is gradually transitioning from traditional roles to new "energy advisors" who can engage, educate and satisfy customers with questions that go beyond billing, outages and other traditional CSR duties. A lot utilities are talking about it; Ameren Missouri is doing it. Read on.
-
CenterPoint, Oncor use a contest to engage and educate customers
Utilities will engage customers one way or the other. Oncor and CenterPoint have used Americans' enthusiasm for games to engage and educate their customers, who then set about sharing the advantages of meter data amongst themselves. For a how-to, read on.
-
Sott McCollum, President of BillingTree, one of the nation's leading on-demand payment processors, outlines 12 ideas that can help organizations improve their bottom line in 2012.
-
Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) announced today that Electricidade e Agua da Guinee Bissau (EAGB), the national power and water utility in Guinea-Bissau, has completed the implementation of Itron's electricity prepayment technology.
-
Report: variables involved in motivating consumers
A new report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy draws some conclusions from recent pilots about presenting consumers with energy use feedback information. Hint: such feedback doesn't motivate everyone, nor would it be cost effective to enable everyone with such capabilities.
-
Oncor, JEA and PPL describe their MDMS implementations
Meter data management systems can provide operational, customer and business benefits, but implementation can be an arduous process. Benefit from the lessons learned by your peer utilities by joining us for a webinar this Thursday.
-
Insights from the UAI Summit 2012
Christine Richards reveals key analytics findings, and analogies, from the first day of the Utility Analytics Institute Summit in Orlando, Florida.
- 1 of 50
- ››
