Utilities` investment in objects pays off
Until recently, utility companies had little reason to change the way they operated. They were monopolies that practically owned the energy resources in their respective parts of the country. Utilities did not feel the consumer pressures most businesses suffer from today. However, large customers, increasingly margin sensitive,a re outting greater pressure on their energy suppliers to cut costs. In some areas of the country, utilities can compete for so-called wholesale industrial clients, even if those clients don`t fall within their service area. And pressure is building on the home or retail level as well. Deregulation of the industry could soon mean five neighbors on the same block could conceivably order electricity from five different energy suppliers. For one company to distinguish itself from another, it must follow a plan of learning what the customer wants and delivering that better than the competition through services, such as special arrangements with high consumption clients and better, more efficient billing procedures. Utilities are finding flexible, change-oriented infromation systems are helping them deliver those specialties. Companies have decided to move to object-oriented programming in order to cope with their newfound competitive pressures. All have adopted ParcPlace Systems` VisualWorks to develop business-critical applications.When the software keeps pace with changing business needs, they can actually provide better customer service at a cheaper rate.
- OSTI ID:
- 98827
- Journal Information:
- Electric Light and Power, Vol. 73, Issue 6; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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