As mentioned in a previous post, I’m a big Carolina Hurricanes fan. What Tripp Tracy would call a “Huge Caniac”!
Before I explain how a hockey team relates to your utility business office, please indulge me in asking a favor…
2025 Utility Fee Survey
Have you completed the 2025 Utility Fee Survey yet? (Not many of you have because early participation numbers are down from previous years.) I know you get overwhelmed with requests to complete surveys, and I really appreciate you taking the time to complete this one.
The more participation we have in the survey, the better the quality of the data. If you haven’t already done so, please complete the 2025 Utility Fee Survey by clicking here.
Now back to talking about hockey and your business office…
Mikko Rantanen
On January 24, the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche stunned the hockey world when the Avalanche traded Mikko Rantanen to the Hurricanes. Rantanen was a huge star with the Avalanche, leading them to a Stanley Cup win in 2022. Despite his reputation as a star, Rantanen never really appeared to be comfortable playing for the Hurricanes. He never lived up to his reputation, scoring only two goals and four assists in 13 games.
Last Friday, just before the NHL trade deadline, the Hurricanes traded Rantanen to the Dallas Stars for Logan Stankoven and several draft picks. In his first game for the Hurricanes, Stankoven scored a goal. From my perspective, Stankoven seems to be a much better fit with the Hurricanes’ team chemistry than Rantanen. (For the record, Rantanen scored a goal in each of his first two games for Dallas, so that seems to be a good fit, as well.)
How is this relevant?
So, how does this relate to your business office, you’re probably asking by now? I recently worked with a utility where an employee in the business office just didn’t seem to be a good fit. Of course, there are no trades in the utility world. However, I couldn’t help but wonder if this utility would be better off parting ways with this employee.
Finding a better fit
Local governments and utility districts tend to be less aggressive than private sector businesses when it comes to firing employees. Unfortunately, this reluctance to make difficult decisions often holds the utility back from operating as effectively and efficiently as possible. Sometimes the best course of action is to let someone go, so they can be a star somewhere else, and bring in a new employee who is a better fit.
Are there difficult decisions your utility needs to make…?
Upcoming seminar
The Utility Management Committee of NC One Water is sponsoring a customer service seminar entitled Technology Implementation within Water Utilities: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The seminar will be held at Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro next Tuesday, March 18, and there is an option to attend virtually. I will be participating in a panel discussion about utility software implementations, and I’ve seen it all!
For more information, or to register for the seminar, please click here.
Does your office need to make difficult decisions?
Is your business office functioning as efficiently as possible? If not, or if you are unsure, please call me at 919-673-4050 or email me at gary@utilityinformationpipeline.com for more information about how a business review could help you find out.
© 2025 Gary Sanders