Integration of Peoples Natural Gas and Aqua America Merger (Essential Utilities)
Background: Aqua America announced its acquisition of Peoples Natural Gas in fall 2018 and closed on the acquisition in March 2020. Together the two companies formed Essential Utilities.
IDI Consulting has worked with Aqua America since its acquisition of Peoples. IDI Consulting has performed enterprise business analysis of Aqua America, developed the business case for the integration of Peoples Natural Gas and Aqua America, developed the IT integration plan, and has been chosen to be the Project Management Office for the 5-year IT integration and business transformation of Essential Utilities. The 5-year program is called the Service Improvement Program and kicked off in 2020.
The business case was approved as written by the Board of Directors in December 2019.
The Service Improvement Program consists of 32 integrated IT projects, spanning the integration of:
- BUSINESS APPLICATIONS
- MICROSOFT OFFICE
- SYSTEMS
- IT ORGANIZATION
- IT INFRASTRUCTURES
- NETWORKS
- CYBERSECURITY
- CALL CENTERS
- DISASTER RECOVERY
The Goals of the Service Improvement Program
- ENHANCE CUSTOMER SERVICE
- MEET THE ACQUISITION SETTLEMENT GOALS
The scope of the business case encompassed the entirety of information technology platforms of both Aqua America and Peoples Natural Gas.
Outcome: IDI Consulting was selected to be the Project Management Office for the 5-year IT integration and business transformation.
Essential Utilities is currently one year into the Service Improvement Program, which will eventually yield a single, fully integrated IT environment. The project—currently on time and slightly under budget—is viewed favorably by the Board of Directors and Executive Management, especially regarding the constraints COVID-19 has placed on face-to-face business meetings. Hundreds of virtual meetings have been held across technology and business teams in 10 states with no delay in the Service Improvement Program.
Successful IT Solutions As an SAP Partner, IDI Consulting is an adaptable, resourceful team that solves business problems through the practical application of the most appropriate information technology.
