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Communicating Pricing to Residential and Business Customers. 2006 APPA Customer Connections Conference. Kevin Martin Key Accounts Manager Danville Utilities November 6 th , 2006. Introducing Danville, Virginia. Located in Southside Virginia on the Virginia - North Carolina border
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Communicating Pricing toResidential and Business Customers 2006 APPA Customer Connections Conference Kevin Martin Key Accounts Manager Danville Utilities November 6th, 2006
Introducing Danville, Virginia Located in Southside Virginia on the Virginia - North Carolina border 207 miles from Washington, D.C. 150 miles from Richmond, Va. 67 miles from Raleigh, N.C. Web Sites http://www.danville-va.gov http://www.discoverdanville.com
Introducing Danville, Virginia Population -- City: 46,000 Metropolitan Area: 107,000 Size -- City: 44 sq. mi. Electric Service Area: 500 sq. mi. History -- Founded in 1793 and incorporated in 1830 as a tobacco and textile manufacturing center. Utilities founded in 1880’s. Government Structure -- Council-Manager Municipal Employment -- 1,245 full-time and part-time employees
About Danville Utilities 187 fulltime employee positions $154 million in expenditures in FY 2007 (over ½ of the City's budget!)
About Danville Utilities 500 Square Mile Territory City Served: Danville, VA 3 Counties Served: Pittsylvania, Henry, and Halifax
About Danville Utilities Natural Gas 16,500 Customers 29,000 Decatherms/Day Additional Capacity Available
About Danville Utilities Water and Wastewater 16,500 Customers 18 MGD Water Plant 24 MGD Wastewater Plant Water Source: Dan River
About Danville Utilities Telecommunications nDanville Fiber Optic Network Gigabit Ethernet OC-3 Internet Connection
About Danville Utilities Electric 45,000 Customers Size: 240 MW Generation: 12 MW Hydro, 6 MW Diesel Units
Situational Background RATE INCREASES!!! Fuel Cost Increases Electric Deregulation Dysfunctional Wholesale Electric Markets
Situational Background Residential Rateper kWh: From 5 cents to 7.4 cents Business Rateper kWh: From 3 cents to 6 cents
Situational Background Natural Gas We All Know What Happened There…
Situational Background Water and Wastewater Operations Are Large Power Users Electric Increases = Water Increases
3 M’s of Marketing Market Target Message Mode of Delivery
Market Target Residential Customers Businesses Key Accounts
Message: Residential Customers What’s Happening Why It’s Happening What You Can Do
Message:Businesses What’s Happening Why It’s Happening What You Can Do Technical Information
Message:Key Accounts How It Happened Future Projections Actions To Be Taken Detailed Technical Information
Modes of Delivery:Residential Customers Web Page Information Group Meetings TV, Radio, Newspaper Bill Stuffers
Modes of Delivery:Businesses Web Page Information Chamber of Commerce Business Group Meetings TV, Radio, Newspaper
Modes of Delivery:Key Accounts Personalized E-mail Key Account Group Meetings Individual Key Account Meetings
Recommendations Be Honest Be Direct Listen
Recommendations Inform In Advance Give People Time to Prepare Be Cognizant of Budgeting Schedules
Recommendations Educate Internally & Externally Don’t Assume Understanding Anticipate Questions
Recommendations Chase The Media Don’t Let The Media Chase You Tell The Negatives But Keep The Focus On Strengths
Resources We Used US Department of Energy: Energy Saver Books Industrial Technology Classes Industrial Energy Assessments
Resources We Used Energy Consultants: Rate Analysis Energy Audit Seminars Informational Business Meetings
Resources We Used United Way: New Utility Assistance Program Continued Public Education In Energy Conservation & Household Budgeting
Results of our efforts New and Expanded Local Markets For Energy Efficiency Products
Results of our efforts Community Trust & Strengthened Relationships with Businesses and Key Accounts
Results of our efforts Continued Success In Economic Development
Results of our efforts And… I get to keep my job!
Thank you Questions?
Communicating Pricing toResidential and Business Customers Kevin Martin Key Accounts Manager Danville Utilities November 6th, 2006 E-mail: martikn@ci.danville.va.us O: 434.799.6474 C: 434.548.2537