Bound For Efficiency Utility partners do not literally exchange dollars as they divide program responsibility. Instead, they barter services such as marketing, fixture purchasing, and installation while capitalizing on the strengths of each partner. For example, private utilities can hire contractors without the bureaucratic mazes that stymie some public utilities. In Washington, Puget Power, a private utility, handled contract administration for their territory. In Southern California, the Metropolitan Water District was particularly well-equipped for printing, so they handled that task.
Different utilities offer different skills, but also have different needs.
In Washington, Seattle City Light needed to collect the old, inefficient fixtures that had been replaced, while Puget Power didn't. And many private utilities are comfortable with a more liberal marketing and advertising approach than public ones. Successful partnerships design communication and flexibility into the relationship. Staffs plan frequent, short meetings and encourage a steady information flow through memos, sometimes on electronic mail. They create a precise structure with the nimbleness to make rapid adjustments.