Project #4085

Assessing Customer Preferences and Willingness to Pay: A Handbook for Water Utilities

$476,999
Completed
Principal Investigator
Jennifer
Thacher
Research Manager
Kenan Ozekin, PhD
Contractor
University of New Mexico
Customer Relations & Stakeholder Engagement
Utility Finance
Utility Management
Rates & Revenue

Abstract

Develops more robust tools to better characterize customer input to utility investment priorities. Reviews survey approaches for eliciting accurate customer preferences, describes how such tools have been used in public decision-making, and tests the tools in water utility customer surveys. Also develops a handbook that provides guidance to utilities and their vendors on designing, implementing, and analyzing customized "willingness to invest" surveys for typical utility investments. Published in 2011.