AMI a Significant Weapon in Utility Credit and Collections Arsenal, but Promised Benefits far from Reality, Chartwell Says

ATLANTA, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Chartwell's report on credit and collections in the utility industry reveals much interest around advanced metering and benefits it can bring for utilities in cutting costs associated with service disconnections and energy theft. But with few utilities having true advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) in place, the industry has yet to realize the real impact AMI will have on the collections process, Chartwell finds.

Chartwell's researchers found that, while there are successful case study examples, less than one-third of utilities with some level of AMI or less- sophisticated automated metering had used the technology for theft detection. Significantly fewer had used it for remote disconnection, a feature that enables utilities to shut off service for non-payment without physically sending a technician to the customer premises.

The results of survey questions about AMI/AMR usage as well as other revenue assurance technologies, processes and practices are reported in Chartwell's Report on Credit & Collections in the Utility Industry 2008, 3rd Edition.

Overall, Chartwell found that utilities have progressed in the effort to reduce bad debt costs and encourage customer payment. Chartwell believes a majority of utilities now look to outside credit reporting bureaus, and some use proprietary customer scoring methodology to predict customer behaviors and target with collection efforts the truly at-risk customers.

On the AMI front, Chartwell predicts more utilities will realize the promised benefits in operational efficiency as they implement more sophisticated AMI systems, which, according to Chartwell's research, will occur at a substantial rate in the coming years.

Chartwell's Report on Credit & Collections in the Utility Industry 2008, 3rd Edition assesses study participants' risk-management efforts, disconnection policies, customer communications, and technologies. It is available to Chartwell Premier and Customer Care Series members; non-members may purchase the report for $795.

For membership information, contact Kristy Dickens at (800) 432-5879, (404) 237-9099 or kdickens@chartwellinc.com, or visit www.chartwellinc.com or Chartwell's Energy Library at www.energylibrary.com .

ABOUT CHARTWELL INC.

Chartwell Inc. is a specialized information provider that facilitates knowledge exchange among utility professionals. Chartwell publishes best practices case studies, quantitative and qualitative research and electronic newsletters, and hosts conferences and other events.

    Press Contact:
    Dennis Smith
    Vice President
    Chartwell Inc.
    (404) 237-9099, Ext. 31