BDEW: Further development of benchmarking projects

"It is clear for us that regulatory approaches will stalemate as far as the water sector is concerned. But we as water industry cannot come to a halt with this correct ascertainment. Customers require today more transparency in the light of different price levels. We must explain these differences in a convincing manner", Abke said. An appropriate instrument to this end was the Customer Balance which enabled every water supply utility to show the service and quality which it guarantees under the respective local conditions, and to explain to the customers the price differences possibly resulting from these conditions. In the framework of particular events in the different German Laender, BDEW continues to win the companies over to a participation in this transparency instrument.

BDEW intended to extend benchmarking, i.e. a comparison of performance indicators between companies. "Benchmarking projects have successfully developed within the German Laender. A growing number of companies of the water sector participate in benchmarking. It is seen in positive terms that Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia advocated benchmarking and a combination with the Customer Balance and give preference to this instrument over cartel law measures. But we must not rest on this success but carry on performance benchmarking. It is essential to actively gain a larger number of participants", the BDEW Vice-President said. Companies having participated in benchmarking projects took a very positive view on this experience.