Branding Update
July 14. 2016 

Utility Branding Network

Hope you all had a great 4th of July holiday. Many of you may know that several years ago we formed the Utility Branding Network (UBN). The purpose of the UBN is to advance best practices in utility branding, provide a vehicle for member utilities to share progress and case studies, and ultimately increase investment in water resources and infrastructure. The Utility Branding Network is sponsored by the National Water Research Institute (NWRI). 

General Manager Forums - In addition to our bi-annual workshops for staff and managers, we recently held our first official GM Forum. These meetings allow water and wastewater GM's to come together and discuss progress on utility branding, and topics of their own choosing. GM's from 7 leading utilities in Southern California attended this inaugural meeting, and discussion topics included rate-increase communications, the influence of customers on policy decisions, how policy makers perceive their roles in representing the public, and the benefits of a formal strategic plan.

Upcoming Events - Our next GM forum will be held in the San Francisco bay area on August 2, and the next Branding Network Workshop will be held at Orange County Water District on August 22.

Making a Compelling Argument for Investment - This recently released UBN tool outlines the structure for making a compelling argument for investment, and explains the logic behind this structure. To receive a copy of the tool, or learn more about the Branding Network, contact John Ruetten.