The use of e-commerce in electric and gas utilities markets is skyrocketing due to lower billing costs and increased service offerings, according to marketing consultants Frost & Sullivan. This use of e-commerce was pioneered in the UK (by PowerGen) and Scandinavia in 1999, and it is being encouraged by the major power generating companies. Globally, utilities account for around 25% of all “repetitive bills,” which is a strong incentive for utilities companies to change from paper to electronic methods. E-commerce transactions in the European utilities market totaled $36 million in 1999, and should reach $23.7 billion by the end of 2006, which is more than 9% of the total electricity and gas market.
Based on a report from i-FM
