Gavin Dufty - St Vincent de paul Society - Signing up the customer - the first encounter matters
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Transcript of Gavin Dufty - St Vincent de paul Society - Signing up the customer - the first encounter matters
Managing Collections and Hardship Programs in Utilities, Banks and Telecommunications 24 -‐ 25 June 2011 Melbourne Marriott
Gavin Du)y Manager Policy and Research St Vincent de Paul Society
Signing up the customer -‐ Dirst encounter matters – will cover Will cover – from Case work perspecBve • The energy spend • Billing and collecBon cycles to assist consumers • Timing -‐ right informaBon at the right Bme
• Regulatory barriers in a dynamic market
• OpportuniBes / risks with smart meters
Price increases 2009-‐13
Disposable income by household group -‐ September 2013
Household group September 2013
All households, eight capital ciBes $1676.80
All Households Australia $1559.99
Couple with three or more dependant children
$1597.12
Renter $1379.72
Unemployed and student allowance $785.27
The AVERAGE utility spend-‐RPI All Households Renter Unemployed /
Student Couple 3 Children
Percent UBlity spend (note esBmates from 2009/10 HES)
4.5% 3.7% 6.8% 5.6%
Dollar spend uBliBes
$63.61 $47.11 $42.10 $88.75
Dollar spend Electricity
$39 $35.43 $28.19 $55
Dollar spend Gas
$10.08 $8.21 $6.65 $14.44
Av ¼ energy bill $588.96 $523.68 $418.08 $833.28
Bill as propor/on of weekly income
37.7% 37.9% 53.2% 52.2%
Right information at the right time • Ge^ng though – have you called the phone line ?
• Concessions and other assistance – retailers add value ! – concessions – URGS – energy efficiency
• What else you offer – energy literacy, conservaBon informaBon, hardship programs, tell them about it UP FRONT – people don’t like begging later
• And ge^ng them on the best rate – makes no sense to have them on the highest rate / default rate – would you like fries with that !
• If they don’t know ….. they cant help themselves.
Billing and collection cycles to assist consumers • Frequency of bills considered in conjuncBon with other bills (gas at the very least if duel fuel contract etc) why all fight for the same money. (bill smoothing e-‐bills etc)
• AddiBonal fees and charges (Late Fee, Processing fee, dishonoured fee etc) these when coupled with loss of POT add up to hundreds $ per annum -‐ WHATS The real bill.
• Ge^ng the right informaBon at the right point in the collecBon cycle – the right prompts eg disconnecBon warning -‐ tell them how you can help them pay
Regulation – challenges to the consumer experience • RegulaBon is based on an industry customer service 15 years ago • Barriers to the right informaBon being on bills (e-‐bills step around this in part) • Third parBes and obligaBons – confusion brand risk • Privacy barrier -‐ energy is a social good contracts are individual the person responsible for household budget may not be the name on the bill – this big issue !
• Smart meter -‐ No regulatory guidance so if nasBes come to market the industry takes a hit
Opportunities / risks with smart meters – things are changing QUICKLY • IHD / portals • Billing on demand • Apps • Tariffs design that beler align with consumer energy saving strategies • More complexity and hence confusion • AddiBonal fees and charges • Third parBes • NZ -‐ enter own reading on web page or call centre (and make bill on that basis) retailer meter owner
IHD and Portals
Powershop – in your pocket Origin – my home profile
Portals AGL -‐ IQ Energy Australia – e Wise
Managing Collections and Hardship Programs
• Gavin Du)y Manager policy and research St Vincent de Paul society
• gavind@svdp-‐vic.org.au • 0439357129