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July 1, 2005
Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Developing a Workable Plan for a Successful Future, Public Power Magazine, July-August 2005
| For More Information |
Tim Blodgett
Hometown Connections
303-526-4515
tblodgett@hometownconnections.com
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Strategy Development and Facilitation
The public power industry is following a road map for the 21st century. Officials have identified strategic areas of utility governance, operations and community involvement upon which public power utilities must focus their efforts and exercise leadership for future success. American Public Power Association 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. And yet, for many, this may be easier said than done. In response, Hometown Connections is helping APPA members translate the advice of public power’s brain trust into workable, measurable plans for individual utilities.
“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 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. The task force concluded that public power utilities will find success by:
--Providing superior customer service,
--Improving power supply management,
--Operating an efficient and reliable distribution system,
--Protecting the environment,
--Maintaining a superior work force,
--Being a technology leader and innovator,
--Boosting customer loyalty,
--Keeping the governing board and staff working together, and
--Promoting the benefits of living and working in a public power community.
Hometown Connections focuses exclusively on helping public power utilities implement these recommendations. On behalf of the APPA membership, Hometown Connections negotiates lower purchase prices on innovative products and services from industry suppliers. Staff members apply their knowledge of municipal governance and utility management by serving as consultants and facilitators for APPA members who know what needs to be done but require help to get the ball rolling.
For example, Hometown Connections has been working with the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, the largest generating municipally owned utility in New York, to create and execute a clear business definition across all departments and divisions. Serving about 20,000 customers, Jamestown BPU viewed the appointment of a new general manager as a good point to examine in detail the utility’s policies and requirements.
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. Each participant learned to think about and approach the strategic planning process in the same way. 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.
“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 between our staff members and between staff and board,” said Wally Haase, general manager, Jamestown BPU.
“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,” said Dr. Lillian Ney, president of the Jamestown City Council and a member of the Jamestown BPU board of directors. “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.”
“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,” said Jeff Tarbert, APPA senior vice president and workshop leader. “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 work in depth with the board and staff to develop a realistic, step-by-step blueprint for adapting to fluid market conditions and meeting the complex expectations of customers.”
Aided by Hometown Connections, the electric division of Jamestown BPU has established goals in the areas of customer growth, environmental stewardship, financial performance, and reliability. The electric division has also developed operating strategies and action items enabling the utility to achieve these business goals.
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