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Organization Check Up
Hometown Connections conducts an organization review and provides a low-cost, quick assessment of utility operations and management. Staff experts work closely with the utility senior staff and board. A typical check-up includes two to three days onsite followed by analysis and recommendations.
Schedule an Independent Review of Your Operations
The demands of the new energy economy, emerging technologies, changing regulatory expectations are pressing public power managers to examine all aspects of utility management and operations. For advice from professionals who have worked with hundreds of public power systems, bring in the consulting team from Hometown Connections to conduct a thorough review of your electric utility.
We'll help you identify and document areas that are working well, areas to improve, and new business opportunities. You’ll learn how to address these challenges and more:
--Today’s customers have high expectations for reliable service and support.
--Energy supply is more complicated, more costly, and less available.
--Employee costs are increasing while it’s becoming more difficult to recruit qualified personnel.
--Transmission and distribution systems are aging, increasing the pressure for investments in new technologies.
--Governing boards must play a stronger role in ensuring their utility’s success.
Through the Organization Check Up, you will access the expertise of the Hometown Connections staff.
Tim Blodgett is the President and CEO of Hometown Connections and works extensively with APPA members on strategic planning and organization development. He brings experience from the investor-owned and public power sectors.
National Sales Director for Hometown, Steve VanderMeer has been providing marketing and consulting services to public power utilities since 1998. Previously, he was Director of Marketing and Energy Services at Fort Collins Utilities in Colorado.
Walter McGrath is the Northeast Sales Representative for Hometown. He served as the general manager of the Braintree, Mass., Electric Light Department, is a past Chair of the APPA Board, and has been a public power leader for nearly 40 years.
Turn to the Experts on Utility Best Practices
Based on more than 11 years of experience working with over 650 members of the American Public Power Association, the staff of Hometown Connections is in high demand for expertise in utility best practices.
Through our Organization Check Up service, Hometown Connections provides a low-cost, quick assessment of key areas of utility management and operations, including:
--Customer service
--Communications
--Power supply
--Distribution operations
--Employee safety
--Governance
--Rates
--Administration
--Accounting and finance
--Planning
--Costs
--Technology
--Human resources
A typical check up includes two days onsite at the utility followed by a written report that documents the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for each utility.
This review provides the utility with realistic recommendations and can also provide the basis for a broader view strategic planning process.
APPA Members Talk about the Organization Check Up
To obtain expert advice as well as a greater level of transparency to utility customers and staff, the Washington City, Utah, Power Department brought in the consulting team from Hometown Connections to conduct a thorough review of all electric utility operations.
"The approach we took to the check up was to be as open as possible about every aspect of the department regardless of positive or negative results. We were also interested in finding ways to improve in areas that were deficient that we may not have been aware of. . . The Hometown Connections staff is very professional, organized, friendly, concise, and a pleasure to work with. I would recommend them to anyone seeking a professional and honest evaluation of their organization."
--Kelly Carlson
Director of Power
Washington City, Utah
The City of Princeton, Illinois, was looking for an assessment of its utility billing, distribution, and customer communications practices. Employees from the electric, billing, economic development, and human resources departments joined the city manager and city clerk in the onsite portion of the evaluation.
"We brought in Hometown Connections because it is important to obtain honest information from outsiders with an objective point of view. . . The professional backgrounds and public power expertise of the Hometown staff played an important role in the success of this project. Because he worked for several years in a city manager’s office in Colorado, Steve VanderMeer was able to communicate very effectively with our city officials. Tim Blodgett’s background in utility operations impressed our city commissioners as well. Hometown Connections understands our size public power utility and offers concrete, real-world advice."
--Jason Bird
Superintendent of Electric & Telecommunications
City of Princeton, Illinois
Schedule Your Check Up Today
As you prepare to tackle the many new challenges of running a public power system, start with an independent appraisal of what you are doing now and what you should be prepared to do in the near future.
Contact your Hometown Connections representative for the full details of our Organization Check Up.
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