Our Competitive Challenge
In 1998, Padre Dam's Board of Directors challenged staff to be competitive with private utilities. Twelve employee teams developed and implemented 12 cost saving strategies:

> Capital improvement program planning
> Program driven maintenance

> Less attended operations
> Billing structure
> Purchasing strategies
> Grant funding
> Process mapping
> Technology
> Multi-skilled workforce and skill-based compensation
> Performance measures and indicators
> Outsourcing
> Use of consultants

The Competitive Challenge has trimmed our operating budget by 11%, producing $1.8 million annually in cost savings, cost avoidance and new revenues.  The greatest value of the Competitive Challenge has been the process itself, and the innovation and creativity (thinking outside the box) that it inspires.