THE POWER OF AGILITY Managing UTILITYnet’s growth has been a complex but rewarding journey. The company operates 40 Community Energy Marketers across Alberta, each acting as a retail brand with which customers interact directly. Darren Chu, Managing Director, explains that the primary challenge has been ensuring consistent, high-quality service across all brands. “We handle all the billing, invoicing, data management, and customer care for our retailers. Scaling while maintaining that level of service has been critical.” Christie Murnaghan,Director of Operations,elaborates on the difficulty of training and supporting the expansive sales force. “It’s like running a classroom with 40 students. They must have the knowledge and confidence to represent the brand as we would. It’s challenging, but we take pride in our education efforts.” These hurdles have pushed UTILITYnet to leverage its nimbleness as a small company to stay ahead of industry trends. Murnaghan emphasizes the company’s adaptability: “We don’t have layers of bureaucracy like the big players. We can walk down the hallway, discuss an idea, and implement it quickly.” Chu agrees that competitors require extensive legal and managerial approvals before executing changes. “We know what we want to achieve and just get it done,” he says.“That allows us to be innovative and stay ahead of market shifts.” DRIVING SOLAR ADOPTION IN ALBERTA One of UTILITYnet’s most significant advances is the Solar Club™, which was launched in 2019. This program was designed to help customers with rooftop solar maximize their return on investment. “We offer a flexible rate structure, allowing customers to switch between high and low rates depending on the season,” Chu explains.“This ensures they get the best value for their energy exports to the grid.” The program has been a game-changer for UTILITYnet’s customers and Alberta’s solar industry. “Other retailers have copied this model,” Murnaghan says. “Anyone offering a solar-specific retail plan 83 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 03 UTILITYNET
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx