Utility companies today face global market conditions that are impeding their ability to balance the needs of customers against the need for operational efficacy. Utilities have to contend with a distinct set of challenges; they must retain existing customers and attract new ones, increase profitability at the same time as ensuring affordability and access are demonstrably meeting significant social responsibilities and regulatory demands prescribed by government. Burgeoning competition, privatisation and deregulation all bring additional pressures; amid an unprecedented economic downturn, customers can increasingly default on payments, contributing to the risk of day sales outstanding (DSO) and bad-debt losses.
Debt management programmes include debt settlement programmes, debt consolidation programmes and debt counseling programmes. The programmes vary with global financial changes, country-specific rules where these programmes are implemented, the financial status of the country and the debtor, and the rules of the country where the standard programme is registered. These are often very big programmes and amounts are not counted in thousands, but in millions or billions.
Utilities in regulated and competitive markets need more effective ways to deal with delayed payments and unpaid bills. Such delays and defaults can have serious ramifications, such as constrained self-financed expansion possibilities and the need to raise prices and reduce service. This compact course will offer effective strategies and tools to support the reduction in the levels of debt experienced by utility companies worldwide, and provide practical solutions that take account of local circumstances and seek to enhance and develop existing methods of debt management within your organisation.