Water Utility Executives Identify Water Line Protection And Infrastructure Improvements As Issues For Companies At Meeting Of Securities Analysts

• Investor Owned Water Companies Seek Added Value for Customers and New Revenue Streams
• Steps to Mitigate Customer Risk in the Event of a Line Break is a Priority

Creating new sources of shareholder and customer value continues to be a key area of focus for the nation’s investor owned utility companies, according to HomeServe USA, a leading provider of emergency repair service plans. During the recently held New York Society of Securities Analyst conference (NYSSA), water service line protection plans for homeowners and capital improvements to existing infrastructure were common themes throughout the series of investor presentations. 

“Many of today’s utility companies are looking to enhance their customer’s overall experience, while at the same time, providing new sources for revenue,” said Deb Dulsky, Chief Commercial Officer for HomeServe USA. “Water service line protection plans achieve both, and provide a broader platform of services for utilities to offer their customers.” 

Event attendee Dennis W. Doll, Chairman, President and CEO of Middlesex Water Company, commented during his presentation, “We entered into an agreement with HomeServe USA in 2011 to manage our service line protection program, and to provide added value for our customers. Service line plans are outside of our core services, so we needed a partner who could provide the highest level of customer support possible.  To date, the relationship has benefitted all parties, most important, our customers.” 

Water service line protection plans vary and are managed by utilities in one of two ways: some offer this service through their own proprietary service plans, while others engage an outsourced service provider, such as HomeServe USA.

“Today, eight of the ten largest investor-owned utilities offer water service line protection plans and the remaining companies are looking at the option very seriously,” added Dulsky. “This is a subject at the forefront of many industry discussions. As a result, we’ve seen our business grow 20% in the past year.”

According to a recent survey, 50% of homeowners were unsure if their utility company or insurance company would cover the cost to fix a break in their water service line*.  If those homeowners are not covered, and the service line fails, the cost for repair can range between $1,500 to $3,000 or more. In response to this, water utilities are offering water service line protection as an affordable solution for their customers and a way to grow incremental revenue for their shareholders.

* GfK Roper Custom Research, 2011

About HomeServe
HomeServe USA Corp (HomeServe) is an independent provider of Emergency Repair Service Plans. The company was established in the US in 2003 and has grown to protect nearly 1.2 million homeowners across the US and Canada, against the expense and inconvenience of water, sewer, electrical and other home emergencies. HomeServe dedicates itself to being a customer-focused company providing best in class emergency repair plans for utility partners and customers. For more information, visit www.homeserveusa.com.