When you receive your utilities bill monthly, what goes in your mind? Any household utilities user will think that it is for the amount of electricity, water and gas that they have used for the month. In some ways we are correct. However, we fail to think that these are being supplied to us as services for which we have to pay. In short, our utilities bills do not only reflect the amount of electricity, water and gas that we have used up for the month, but it also shows the service that these utility companies have provided in delivering the resources to our homes and businesses.
Somehow we forget about the structures, wires, pipes that deliver the resources to us as a service. What we are aware of is that we press the switch, we turn on the tap or open a valve and electricity, water, and gas flow in. The way that these services are delivered are seamless and transparent because we are hardly aware that they are being delivered. The point is because we do not see the transport infrastructure by which they are delivered to us, we do not consider these means as a service.
Only when they fail do we consider that they are services here. This is when we do refer to them as services. The development, management, and maintenance of infrastructure and its operations are what happens first before we are able to use these services. This is part of the cost that consumer’s carry.
The process by which resources are produced, distributed, and delivered is a complex, expensive, and labor intensive process. This has made the utilities industry something that can support whole economies. What this discussion is really focused on is resources.
In any society, resources are very important. These resources are assets that are needed not only for our basic commodities, but for huge industries as well. In any community, we need utilities. The growth of population and industries will necessarily make a demand on these useful resources to be able to supply the need. This puts pressure on resources to fulfill the needs of growing societies. Things must be done right in order for utilities to supply the needs of growing societies. For more facts and information about utilities, you can go to http://home.wikia.com/wiki/Utilities.
Accurate billing and revenue collection are the things that need to be done so that they can help in the growing demand for these resources. These things will enable companies to manage and sustain the resources to meet the needs of everyone. Billing and collection have to be just and equitable to all. Failure to do so can lead to dissatisfied consumers who will become suspicious and frustrated and can lead to their illegal actions that can lead to disputes and meter tampering.