DC Water - The Opportunity
Due to rising costs associated with capital projects, DC Water wanted to rule out any revenue leakage from theft, uncollected and possibly unbilled revenue. They enlisted VertexOne to undertake a data-backed approach to identify sources of potential revenue leakage.
Targeted Approach
VertexOne leveraged a proven methodology using advanced analytics to examine the meter-to-cash process for key drivers of potential lost revenue:
- Understand your business – interviews with key operations stakeholders provide context regarding key revenue management processes and concerns
- Detailed review of meter-to cash-process – review billing & adjustments, meter audit & inventory management, system reconciliation, account/premise status & lifecycle processes
- Identify critical data sources and prepare data for model – identify, collect and cleanse pertinent data to ensure optimal input for statistical analysis. Input data was extracted from billing system, AMR, AMS and relevant ad hoc databases
- Develop & deploy client-specific analytical model – customized to meet the specific needs of the project, including multiple analyses: customer segmentation, trend, peer-to-peer, and cross sectional/longitudinal
Insight derived from analysis was packaged into data-backed recommendations outlining where potential lost revenue exists and potential ways to recover it. In addition, details were provided about lost revenue sources that might develop in the future, coupled with recommendations for protective measures DC Water can take.
Results Delivered
VertexOne prioritized 23 recommendations (13 quick wins, 8 short term, 2 strategic medium term) to address 35 potential gaps plus a prioritized roadmap for implementation:
- 0.45% of annual revenue identified as potential lost revenue
- 0.54% of annual revenue identified as “At-risk” revenue
- 5.24% of accounts identified for further investigation
As a result, DC Water has:
- Established cross-functional team to carry out key recommendations
- Initiated project to identify and replace 140 large meters to ensure consistent consumption patterns
- DC Water board approved an aggressive plan to replace 15,000 meters/MTUs (Meter Transmission Units)
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