More than money

Structured wisely, compensation and benefits packages become tactical tools that can unleash the power of utilities' secret weapon - their employees. In fact, in virtually all businesses, people are becoming the raw material of competitive advantage. The reason is this simple: competitive advantage comes from understanding what the market-place wants and then delivering it. And employees are the means through which a company accomplishes both ends. Here's a look at how one representative utility - Excellent Electric - has begun to maximize its return on its pay and benefit investment. While the specifics of any human resource strategy vary depending on a particular organization's needs and resources, this case study looks at a number of issues that apply broadly to any utility today. The redesign of EE's compensation and benefits programs, along with its employee involvement initiative, has helped unleach newfound energy and dedication. Together, they demonstrate Excellent Electric's commitment to treating its employees as valued assets and a key source of competitive advantage. And over time, as the new culture and strategy fully take hold, that is exactly what they will become