Otter Tail Power

Challenge
Otter Tail Power Company 128,000 customers are scattered over 50,000 square miles in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Providing power to 423 communities. This distribution creates unique challenges for utility customer service.

Their 20-year old CIS was a mainframe design on an IDMS database. The system had been expanded over the years by extremely competent staff by adding sub-systems and data marts including a CRM system and a marketing information system. However, end-users other than the CSRs had difficulties accessing the system and data was not efficiently shared between the various applications.

Solution
TMG worked with Otter Tail Power on an Application Plan to evaluate the current systems and determine the optimum solution for the future. Alternatives included retaining the current system with the possible addition of staff or business process changes, enhancing the current system, building a custom solution or purchasing a product solution.

Results
The Application Plan provided Otter Tail Power management with the planning necessary for 2006 and 2007 budget planning. Otter Tail Power Company plans to initiate a CIS replacement project in 2009.