Making Shared Services Work
for Your Bottom Line
General Services Conference:
Always On and Making It Work
April 4, 2014
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Thinking Outside of the Box
•
Unique position to utilize
expertise and core
competencies
•
Create partnerships with
local governments,
agencies, and non-profits
outside of the General
Services and/or County
purview.
• Help Meet Community
Climate Action Goals
PACE: The Foundation
Provides residential/commercial property owners
with financing for energy improvements.
Services:
• Marketing/Education/Outreach
• Process contracts
• Provide resources
• Quality Assurance
• Training
• Tool Lending Library
Energy Watch: The Foundation
Provides resources for municipalities, government,
non-profits, and business owners wanting to make
energy efficiency improvements.
Services:
• Energy audits
• Technical assistance
• Consultation
• Rebates and incentives
• Financing options
Windsor PAYS : A New Start
®
Act as Certification Agent for Pay As You Save:
incorporates single and multifamily residences
Services:
• Customer Service delivery
• Act as gatekeeper, manage contracts
• Verification of work to satisfaction of customer
• Education/Outreach
Healdsburg Electric Dept: Going Local
Existing residential energy efficiency and rebate
program for electric utility.
Services:
• Customer Service
• Free walk-thru energy assessments
• Marketing/Education/Outreach
• Attend monthly power agency
meetings
Shared Services Budget Impact
Approximate Revenue ~$8.4 Million
5%
3% 2%
0%
4%
6%
4%
12%
64%
General Fund
PACE Assessments
Utility customers
ARRA
Reimbursements
Rebates
Rebates/PG&E
Windsor Pilot
Healdsburg
Energy and Sustainability Budget
Staffing: Making It Go
PACE
8 full-time employees
Billing – through financing applications,
4% for administration
SCEW
2 full-time employees
Billing – administration and expenses
Windsor PAYS
Lead person – 5 hours per week
Billing – By project plus expenses
Healdsburg Electric Department
Lead person plus intern - 5 hours per week
Billing – Time and materials
Customer Service is Key!
• Assess and develop knowledge and expertise
• Provide tools and programs
• Identify resources within General Services
• Develop great products/expertise
• Establish core competencies
• Build on strengths
• Establish partnerships and create relationships
• Consider behavioral aspects when hiring
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Benefits: Shared Services Going External
to the Community
The Community as a whole benefits from shared
services creating a better bottom line for everyone.
• Common Green House Gas reduction goals
• Education opportunities - being informed and making
educated decisions
• Clear explanations
• Variety of options to make upgrades
• Reduces/minimizes confusion
Benefits: Shared Services Going External to
Local Governments/Agencies/Non-Profits
Local governments, agencies, and non-profits gain
from shared services creating a better bottom line
as they serve the community.
• Expertise/knowledge available
• Reduce duplication - freeing resources
• Marketing/Education/Outreach
• Access to resources
• Keeps economy local
Benefits: Shared Services Going External
to General Services
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Income supporting budget
Profits earned - increasing income
Keeps people employed
Possible to practice and increase
knowledge/expertise, enabling department to handle
larger projects
Provides access to data
Marketing and outreach opportunities beyond
immediate programs
More open relations between residents and County
government
Establishes collaborations - resulting in stronger
relationships between County General Services and
other public entities
The Bottom Line: Economy, Ecology,
and Environment
Promote and deliver solutions… and do it well!
• Lead by example
• Best practices
• Provide education and tools
• Establish partnerships and create relationships
• Future opportunities
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Thank you!
Sonoma County Energy & Sustainability Division
2300 County Center Drive, Suite A105
Santa Rosa, California 95403
Jane Elias
Program Manager- Energy Independence Program
(707) 565-6483
[email protected]
www.sonomacountyenergy.org
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