Paths to Retail Competition

摘要

Total spending on customer-centric activities among electric and gas utilities and their affiliates will increase 30% over the next few years, approaching $8 billion. Most of this spending will be driven by specific investments in things such as data warehousing and customer equity solutions, customer relationship management systems and new customer information systems to better understand customers, develop new products, and improve marketing and selling efficiency and effectiveness. The energy industry though, particularly utilities, has sometimes been criticized as being significantly behind the technology curve. In fact, utilities have become ideal targets for new market entrants who understand e-business. Early signposts include trading portals such as Houstonstreet.com and Altra.