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Strategy Development & Facilitation
Along with helping APPA members pay less for what they need from leading industry suppliers, the staff members of Hometown Connections apply their knowledge of municipal governance and utility management by serving as consultants and facilitators for APPA members developing plans and strategies for future success.
Leveraging Our Experience
Thanks to the leadership of the American Public Power Association, APPA members are recognizing why it’s important to address the needs of customers and to ensure a cooperative relationship between the utility staff and governing board. Yet, for many, this may be easier said than done. In response, Hometown Connections is helping APPA members translate the excellent and timely advice of public power’s brain trust into workable, measurable plans for individual utilities just like yours.
It’s Your Future…Lead It! is the report of APPA’s Task Force on Public Power in the 21st Century. The year-long effort involving the work of 23 public power CEOs applies public power’s historical benefits to today’s changing market conditions and offers a practical guide for the future. The report, published in 2002, remains the public power industry’s guidepost because it addresses enduring market forces and because its principles are proving effective for APPA member utilities. Hometown Connections focuses exclusively on helping public power systems implement the recommendations of this report.
Our staff will facilitate the development of your utility’s strategic plan, guiding your team through a detailed examination of your utility’s policies, procedures and requirements. We’ll help you create and execute a clear business definition across all departments and divisions.
Hometown Connections can help develop plans and strategies to:
--Provide superior customer service
--Improve power supply management
--Operate efficient, reliable distribution system
--Protect the environment
--Maintain a superior workforce
--Be a technology leader, innovator
--Boost customer loyalty
--Keep Board and staff in sync
“The strategy consulting and facilitation services from Hometown Connections are a logical and effective next step for utility staff and board members who have attended APPA’s Policymakers Workshop. In our program, we cover the principles of strategic planning and review the roles and responsibilities of the staff and governing board in the strategic planning process. The officials of Hometown Connections are able to work with the board and staff to develop a realistic, step-by-step blue print for adapting to fluid market conditions and meeting the complex expectations of customers.”
—Jeff Tarbert, APPA Senior Vice President
Case Study—Jamestown, NY
Hometown Connections has been working with the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, the largest generating public power utility in New York, to create and execute a clear business definition across all departments and divisions. By working separately and together with board members, executive staff and representatives from each department (including engineering and customer service), Hometown Connections has helped Jamestown BPU focus on its strengths, weaknesses, competition, and customers’ expectations.
The utility began by working with Hometown Connections to develop a strategic plan for the electric division and then elected to apply the same plan elements to the water, district heating/cooling, wastewater and solid waste divisions. With the aid of Hometown Connections, Jamestown BPU has established achievable, measurable goals in the areas of customer growth, environmental stewardship, financial performance, and reliability.
“Phil Shaffer and Tim Blodgett have been instrumental in assisting our utility in the development and execution of a longer range strategic plan. Because the planning process applies to multiple levels of the organization, Hometown Connections has facilitated an enhanced working relationship among our staff members and between our staff and board.”
—Wally Haase, GM, Jamestown, NY, Board of Public Utilities
“Our board recognizes that in order to fulfill our duty to the community, we must work with the staff to develop and monitor a long-term strategic plan. By facilitating this planning process, Hometown Connections is helping us to better understand the state of today’s electric utility market and to prepare our public power utility for the challenges and opportunities to come.”
—Dr. Lillian Ney, President, Jamestown City Council
It’s Time to Bring Us In
Call today and ask about the strategy development and planning services from Hometown Connections—a partner you can trust. Contact your Hometown Connections representative.
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